JD Vance honors Charlie Kirk by hosting slain activist’s radio show from White House

U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Monday paid a personal tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last week, by hosting his radio program, The Charlie Kirk Show, from his ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House.

The two-hour broadcast, streamed live on Rumble and shown in the White House press briefing room, featured appearances from administration officials who had worked closely with Kirk. The influential 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA was shot dead on Wednesday at Utah Valley University, sending shockwaves through conservative circles.

Vance, who accompanied Kirk’s body back to Arizona aboard Air Force Two last week, acknowledged the emotional weight of stepping in for his friend. “I’m filling in for somebody who cannot be filled in for, but I’ll do my best,” he said.

Reflecting on his bond with Kirk, Vance recalled sitting with Kirk’s widow, Erika, in the aftermath of the tragedy. She shared that her husband never raised his voice or acted unkindly toward her — a sentiment that Vance admitted made him reflect deeply on his own life. “I took from that moment that I needed to be a better husband and a better father. That is the way I’m going to honor my friend,” Vance told listeners.

The 41-year-old vice president first met Kirk nearly a decade ago, forging a friendship that grew stronger over the years. Kirk, who built Turning Point USA into one of the largest political youth movements in America, had strongly supported Vance’s selection as Donald Trump’s running mate in 2024.

Following Kirk’s murder, Vance canceled his planned trip to New York for the Sept. 11 memorial and instead traveled with his wife, Usha, to Orem, Utah, to support Kirk’s family.

For Vance, the tribute was not just political but deeply personal — a reminder of the human connections behind the often combative world of U.S. politics.