Vice President JD Vance said Monday that he would not be vice president without the support of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, describing Kirk as “maybe the most important person” in both securing his nomination and helping the campaign win the White House.
Vance made the remarks during a special White House episode of "The Charlie Kirk Show" held in Kirk's honor, according to a report by the New York Post. The vice president spoke alongside White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and said he had been reflecting on Kirk's role "in the last few days." "If it weren't for Charlie Kirk, I would not be vice president of the United States," Vance said.
Vance credited Kirk's "grassroots army" with helping him secure the nomination and aiding the campaign "across the finish line." He added that while the president makes the final determination on running mates, campaign victories require a team and that Kirk had been an "incredibly important part" of that team.
The event took place Sept. 15, 2025, at the White House and was presented as a tribute to Kirk, who was identified in media reports as a slain conservative activist. Vance's comments were part of a broader on-air conversation; the New York Post published the remarks on Monday.
Vance's acknowledgment underscores the continued influence of conservative media figures and activist networks within Republican politics and presidential campaigns. Kirk, who built a national profile through his organization and media presence, had long been a prominent voice in conservative circles and a frequent booster of Republican campaigns.
White House officials and campaign strategists have routinely pointed to outside organizers, donors and media amplifiers as important components of modern presidential runs. Vance's public expression of indebtedness to Kirk is a rare, explicit recognition from a sitting vice president of the role a single activist's network can play in both nomination fights and general-election efforts.
The White House did not immediately publish a transcript of the broadcast. The New York Post report that captured Vance's remarks did not provide additional new details about Kirk's death or the circumstances prompting the tribute.
Vance's comments are likely to renew attention to relationships between elected officials and outside conservative organizations and media personalities, including questions about influence and gratitude expressed by officeholders toward prominent supporters. For now, Vance framed his remarks as personal thanks for what he called a decisive contribution to his political rise.