Charlie Kirk's casket is expected to be flown on Air Force Two from Salt Lake City to Phoenix on Thursday night, according to a source familiar with the plans who spoke to Fox News Digital. The Turning Point USA founder, 31, was fatally shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University, and the vice president and the second family plan to travel to Salt Lake City on Thursday to visit Kirk’s family and close friends.
Turning Point USA is headquartered in Phoenix, and friends and followers gathered at the group's headquarters Wednesday night for a vigil. The source said Kirk's casket will likely be returned to Phoenix on Air Force Two later Thursday along with his family and members of his circle.
Vice President J.D. Vance posted a personal remembrance of Kirk on X, describing him as a man of "courage, faith and profound loyalty." In the post, Vance said Kirk was among the first people he called when he was considering a run for the Senate in early 2021 and that Kirk helped connect him with campaign personnel and other figures in the conservative movement, including Donald Trump Jr.
"Charlie was one of the first people I called when I thought about running for Senate in early 2021," Vance wrote. He added that Kirk played a pivotal role in the conservative grassroots networks that influenced decisions during the 2024 campaign, including aspects of President Trump's choice of a running mate.
Kirk founded Turning Point USA, an organization that has been active in recruiting and organizing young conservatives. He remained a prominent and sometimes polarizing figure in conservative politics, regularly speaking at events and mobilizing supporters on college campuses.
Officials with the university and local law enforcement have not been quoted in the Fox News Digital report released with the source's account of the travel plans. The source provided the information about the vice president's travel and the expected movement of Kirk's remains; Fox News Digital reported the planned itinerary Thursday, Sept. 11.
The funeral arrangements and further memorial plans for Kirk had not been released publicly as of Thursday afternoon. Turning Point USA's headquarters in Phoenix served as a focal point for mourners on Wednesday night, reflecting Kirk's role in the conservative youth movement and his base of support in Arizona.
The developments come as leaders and allies in conservative politics acknowledge Kirk's influence on recent political organizing and campaign activity. Vance's post and the presence of the second family underscore the personal and political ties between Kirk and senior figures in the current administration, as reported by Fox News Digital.