The Charlie Kirk Show: "Vice President JD Vance Remembers Charlie Kirk"

Date: September 15, 2025
Host: Vice President J.D. Vance (guest-hosting for Charlie Kirk)

Episode Overview

In this powerful and emotional tribute episode, Vice President J.D. Vance hosts The Charlie Kirk Show following the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. The episode is dedicated to honoring Kirk's life, impact, and legacy within the conservative movement, focusing on his influence on students, his irreplaceable leadership at Turning Point USA, and the qualities that made him a pivotal force in American politics. Vance is joined by key political figures, White House staffers, and close friends of Charlie, who share personal stories, discuss the political implications of Kirk's death, and commit to advancing his vision and movement.

Main Themes

• Honoring Charlie Kirk’s personal and professional legacy
• The imperative to continue his work in mobilizing and connecting young conservatives
• Addressing the broader implications of political violence and left-wing extremism
• The need for unity, truth-telling, and courage in the conservative movement
• Inspiration from Kirk’s courage, compassion, and faith

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. J.D. Vance’s Tribute: Charlie’s Character and Legacy

• Emotional Opening: Vance recounts the difficult days following Kirk’s assassination, the impact on Kirk’s family, and what Charlie meant to him and the conservative movement ([00:00]).
  • Quote (J.D. Vance, 01:25):

    “He was a joyful warrior for our country. He loved America. He devoted himself tirelessly to making our country a better place.”

• Personal Anecdotes: Vance shares intimate moments, including flying with Kirk’s remains, meeting his family, and reflections on how Kirk inspired him to be a better husband and father ([02:30–08:00]).
  • Quote (J.D. Vance, 07:22):

    “Maybe the best way that I can contribute and the best way that I could honor my dear friend is to be the best husband that I can be, to be the kind of husband to my wife that he was to his.”

• Charlie’s Vision for TPUSA: Kirk's unique ability to create a network for young conservatives, making activism approachable and personally meaningful ([05:00]).
  • Influence on winning elections and staff structuring in the Trump administration.

2. Courage, Faith, and Keeping the Movement Alive

• Erica Kirk’s Courage: Vance highlights Charlie’s wife Erica’s strength and the central role of family in both Kirk’s life and movement ([08:15]).
• Charlie on How He’d Want to Be Remembered:
  • Quote (J.D. Vance referencing Charlie Kirk, 10:20):

    “I want to be remembered for courage, for my faith. That would be the most important thing. The most important thing is my faith.”

• Continuing the Mission: The need for the movement to grow, embolden the next generation, and ensure justice in the wake of political violence ([10:45]).

3. Guests Reflect on Charlie’s Impact

Stephen Miller – White House Deputy Chief of Staff

[11:24–16:00]

• Cheerleader and Motivator: Kirk inspired greater self-belief in colleagues and staff with constant encouragement.
  • Quote (Stephen Miller, 11:41):

    “He made you believe more in yourself is the best way I could put that.”

  • Quote (Stephen Miller, 13:02):

    “The memory that I keep turning to is not a single memory. It’s a period...after we won the election, and Charlie was in the campaign office every single day from dawn till dusk, volunteering his time to get into the weeds.”

• Moral Clarity in Fighting Violence: Commitment to using the tragedy as motivation to confront left-wing political violence head-on.
  • Quote (Stephen Miller, 15:04):

    “Focused anger, righteous anger directed for a just cause, is one of the most important agents of change in human history...We are going to channel all of the anger...to uproot and dismantle these terrorist networks.”

  • Administration investigations and responses discussed.

Taylor Buttowich, Kaylyn Doerr, Andrew Colvitt – White House & TPUSA

[16:43–26:34]

• Authenticity and Approachability: Kirk made politics accessible, especially for first-timers and young activists.
  • Quote (Taylor Buttowich, 16:43):

    “What you see is what you get...He makes these events approachable to the person that hasn’t done politics before...It became personal to me when my sister...wanted to get involved.”

• Monumental Growth at TPUSA:
  • Quote (Andrew Colvitt, 20:16):

    “Now we have 37,000 applications to start chapters around the country...We are going to be on every single high school campus in America, and he's going to be proven right.”

• Unmatched Encouragement and Faith: Kirk’s support for colleagues as a source of energy and determination.
  • Quote (Kaylyn Doerr, 22:34):

    “He sat there and he prayed for me in the halls of the EOB for quite a bit of time. He didn’t need to do that, right?...He said, you and JD and everyone here in this building are part of the team.”

• Compassion and Truth-Telling: Emphasizing the biblical balance Kirk championed — compassion, honesty, and the courage to speak truth.
  • Quote (Taylor Buttowich, 26:34):

    “The future of the political movement is going to be informed by young people brave and courageous enough to tell the truth, but compassionate enough to understand the suffering of those around them.”

Carolyn Levitt – White House Press Secretary

[28:56–33:53]

• Gen Z Conservative Perspective: How Kirk’s example led her to activism and Congress.
• Kindness in Debate: Kirk’s distinctive strategy—inviting disagreement with warmth.
  • Quote (Carolyn Levitt, 30:43):

    “Standing firm in your convictions and picking a fight...but doing it with a smile. That’s something Charlie did so brilliantly.”

• Instrumental Role in Trump’s Electoral Success:
  • Quote (Carolyn Levitt, 32:52):

    “The President’s massive gains with young Americans...was in no small part because of the efforts of Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA.”

Tucker Carlson – Journalist and Commentator

[35:09–43:06]

• Genuine Faith and Sincerity:
  • Quote (Tucker Carlson, 35:09):

    “His Christianity was sincere and his commitment to Jesus was totally sincere...It informed every single part of his life—from his marriage, the way he treated his children, to the way he treated his staff.”

• Model of Civil Disagreement: Kirk’s ability to disagree without hate, even amid intense rightward divisions.
  • Quote (Tucker Carlson, 37:39):

    “He never forgot there was a person behind the views. And that inspired me...he lived it.”

• Avoiding Co-option of Kirk’s Legacy: Rejects using Kirk for others’ causes, insisting on fidelity to his unity and love for people, even amid disagreement.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – Secretary of Health and Human Services

[43:58–51:44]

• Charlie as an Architect of Coalitions: Kirk’s behind-the-scenes role in unifying coalitions across traditional divides (e.g., recruiting Kennedy).
  • Quote (RFK Jr., 43:58):

    “Charlie was probably the primary architect of my unification with President Trump...he really let me talk a lot, which was unusual at the time.”

• Commitment to Free Speech: Both as a principle and as a practical strategy to heal polarization.
  • Quote (RFK Jr., 49:20):

    “His principal preoccupation was with conversation. He thought conversation was the only thing that could heal our country.”

• Strategic Genius & Idealism: Combining practical political savvy with true idealism.

Susie Wiles – White House Chief of Staff

[51:46–64:10]

• Unseen Strategic Value: Kirk as a tireless operator behind TPUSA’s canvassing efforts, crucially impacting the Trump re-election and youth vote.
  • Quote (Susie Wiles, 53:53):

    “At the end of this whole odyssey, the person that really did everything they said they were going to do and more was Turning Point.”

• Youth Vote Transformation: Kirk’s relentless campus outreach shifted demographics toward conservatism, contributing directly to the 2024 victory.
• Irreplaceability and Organizational Legacy: Emphasizes the difficulty of replacing Kirk as a unique, engaging communicator and mentor to young conservatives.
  • Quote (Susie Wiles, 58:45):

    “He is fundamentally just an irreplaceable figure...the movement has to figure out a way of continuing and continuing to build on what he built...”

Addressing Political Violence & Unity

[64:10–end]

• Media Hostility and Slander: Vance condemns dishonest media attacks on Kirk after his death, describing the pain of seeing lies used to justify political violence ([64:10]).
  • Quote (J.D. Vance, 65:00):

    “Charlie was gunned down in broad daylight, and well funded institutions of the left lied about what he said so as to justify his murder. This is soulless and evil.”

• Heartbreaking Family Impact: Emotional recounting of Kirk’s family facing grief and public hostility.
  • Quote (J.D. Vance, 66:30):

    “Erica asked me for advice on how she should tell her children that their father had been murdered.”

• Call for Honest Unity: Vance pleads for unity, grounded in truth and rejection of violence.
  • Quote (J.D. Vance, 68:24):

    “We can only have it with people who acknowledge that political violence is unacceptable. And when we work to dismantle the institutions that promote violence and terrorism in our own country.”

Notable Leadership Qualities (Recurring Themes)

• Courage and Faith: Kirk’s defining characteristics in both controversy and compassion.
• Building Community: Creating accessible spaces for young activists and fostering lasting relationships.
• Strategic Excellence: Operating behind the scenes—building coalitions, organizing campaigns, and championing effective staffing.
• Civil and Respectful Debate: Always engaging with respect—even toward opponents.
• Compassion and Relentlessness: Providing individual encouragement and personal support, even amid demanding work.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• J.D. Vance [01:25]:

  “He loved America. He devoted himself tirelessly to making our country a better place.”

• Stephen Miller [11:41]:

  “He made you believe more in yourself is the best way I could put that.”

• Andrew Colvitt [20:16]:

  “Now we have 37,000 applications to start chapters. It almost brings a tear to your eye.”

• Kaylyn Doerr [22:34]:

  “He sat there and he prayed for me in the halls of the EOB for quite a bit of time.”

• Carolyn Levitt [30:43]:

  “Standing firm in your convictions and picking a fight...but doing it with a smile. That’s something Charlie did so brilliantly.”

• Tucker Carlson [35:09]:

  “His Christianity was sincere and his commitment to Jesus was totally sincere...It informed every single part of his life.”

• Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. [49:20]:

  “His principal preoccupation was with conversation. He thought conversation was the only thing that could heal our country.”

• J.D. Vance [66:30]:

  “Erica asked me for advice on how she should tell her children that their father had been murdered.”

Action Items and Calls to Action

• Continuing Charlie’s Work: Get involved in TPUSA chapters, run for office, write op-eds, support the movement.
• Demand Truth and Civility: Counter misinformation, call out media libel, and reject violence.
• Live by Charlie’s Example: Embrace courage, faith, compassion, and commitment to truthful dialogue.

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is solemn, heartfelt, and urgent—blending deep personal reflections with broader calls for action and unity. The tone is reverent towards Kirk’s memory, but also determined to mobilize listeners in his honor, emphasizing legacy, hope, and strength in the face of tragedy.

Summary

In a moving broadcast, Vice President J.D. Vance and a host of Charlie Kirk’s collaborators and friends memorialize Kirk as a visionary, connector, and “joyful warrior.” Through powerful stories and honest reflection, they underline the critical next steps for the movement he founded, the need to confront extremism and violence, and the lasting power of faith, truth, and courage that Charlie exemplified. The challenge—laid bare by his loss—is to honor his legacy by building upon it, expanding the movement, and living the virtues Charlie so consistently modeled.

End of Summary