Vice President-elect JD Vance described the very tough moment he delivered the news to President Donald Trump in the Oval Office that Charlie Kirk had been assassinated, while comforting White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Vance recalled to Fox News' Jesse Watters that he walked into the office and told the president, 'Mr. President, I'm sorry but Charlie's passed.' He said the moment summed up a day that felt heavy and that the staff supported one another as the news rippled through the White House.
Vance said the day began with a routine West Wing meeting and that his phone began to buzz around 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 as group chats filled with messages from Kirk and his circle offering prayers. He described the moment someone in the hall told him, 'Charlie’s been shot,' and said the reality hit that the incident was real and serious. Officials later confirmed the shooting occurred during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, with Tyler Robinson identified as the alleged shooter. The Vance team spent the next hour trying to verify the condition of the 31-year-old conservative activist, calling Kirk's staffer Mikey McCoy and scrambling to locate reliable hospital updates amid early confusion. The news, Vance said, was disorienting and chaotic, with a brief stretch of reports that Kirk was stable before the situation deteriorated.
Approximately an hour after a hospital update, Vance and his team reached the Oval Office to inform Trump of the news. He said he hugged Wiles, who had broken into tears, and he said the moment was one where everyone tried to stay composed and support one another. 'She doesn’t show emotion. She’s even keeled the whole way. I just gave Susie a hug and I guess all of us kind of lost it,' Vance said of the chief of staff.
Trump's demeanor after being told was described as 'very stoic' by Vance. The president listened, then quietly absorbed the news before stating that Kirk was 'a good guy' and 'we really loved him.' Vance said he would not watch a video of the assassination again, explaining he had seen one clip and preferred not to dwell on it further.
Hours after Kirk's death, Vance escorted the casket of Charlie Kirk to Air Force Two during a ceremony at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base on Sept. 11, 2025. In an interview with Fox News on Sept. 17, 2025, Vance paid tribute to his 'dear friend' and explained that the Turning Point USA founder helped propel him toward public service, ultimately leading to his selection as Trump's running mate. He described a friendship that began before 2018 and deepened as they grew closer within the conservative movement, noting that mourning for their friend transcended politics.
The episode reverberated across conservative circles and the broader political movement surrounding Turning Point USA. Vance, who was named Trump’s vice presidential pick, reflected on the personal bond with Kirk and the sense that the movement had lost a rapid-growing voice. While Kirk's death sent shockwaves, Vance emphasized the need to honor his friend's legacy while continuing to press forward on the policy priorities and organizing efforts they championed together. The shooting and Kirk's death were later referenced in ensuing discussions about political discourse and security at public events.
As the party and its supporters processed the loss, Vance underscored that the work of Turning Point USA and the broader conservative movement would continue. He framed Kirk's impact as foundational for his own career, saying the friendship helped cement the decision to enter public service and ultimately the path to the presidency. The full life and work of Charlie Kirk were being evaluated in the wake of his death, with colleagues stressing the need for safety, resilience, and a continued focus on the movement's goals.