JD Vance to journey to Utah to pay respects to Charlie Kirk’s household

WASHINGTON ‒ Vice President JD Vance will journey to Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sept. 11 to pay his respects to the household of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, canceling his earlier plans to go to New York City to honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist assaults, in line with a supply conversant in Vance’s plans.

Vance shall be joined by second girl Usha Vance.

The vice chairman was a detailed buddy of the charismatic conservative activist Kirk, who was fatally shot whereas talking at an occasion at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10. A manhunt for the suspect continues to be lively.

More: Charlie Kirk shot and killed in Utah as authorities hunt for gunman: Live updates

President Donald Trump’s schedule on Sept. 11 stays unchanged. He nonetheless plans to attend a 9/11 observance occasion on the Pentagon within the morning and journey to New York City within the afternoon to attend a New York Yankees-Detroit Tigers baseball sport at Yankee Stadium.

Vance calls Kirk a ‘true buddy’ in tribute to youth activist

Vance posted a long tribute to Kirk, 31, on his private X account late on Sept. 10. He mentioned he developed a relationship with the youth chief after seeing him on Tucker Carlson’s tv present and despatched him a direct message.

The relationship that started round 2017 grew into a detailed friendship as the previous Trump skeptics bonded over politics. Kirk would go on to introduce the “Hillbilly Elegy” writer to Trump’s eldest son, Don Jr., and different MAGA energy gamers who would assist Vance win his Ohio Senate race.

“Long before I ever committed (even in my mind) to running, Charlie had me speak to his donors at a TPUSA event. He walked me around the room and introduced me. He gave me honest feedback on my remarks,” Vance wrote. “He did it because we were friends, and because he was a good man.”

Kirk waged a marketing campaign in 2024 to persuade Trump to place Vance on the GOP ticket as his working mate. The public consideration that got here with the nomination and fixed safety presence was tough for Vance’s three kids, the VP mentioned in his put up. He leaned on Kirk as a confidante.

“Charlie was constantly calling and texting, checking on our family and offering guidance and prayers,” Vance mentioned. “He wasn’t just a thinker, he was a doer, turning big ideas into bigger events with thousands of activists.”

More: JD Vance beneficial properties clout with Trump and MAGA over bombshell VP moments

In the assertion, Vance mentioned that Kirk “exemplified a foundational virtue of our Republic: the willingness to speak openly and debate ideas” and labored “to broaden the scope of acceptable debate” in America.

He mentioned the daddy of two was additionally a “great family man” and “a true friend” who was instrumental in getting Trump reelected and staffing the federal authorities.

“You ran a good race, my friend,” Vance wrote. “We’ve got it from here.”