Charlie Kirk Today

Vice President J.D. Vance: The Legacy of Charlie Kirk | Charlie Kirk Today

September 15, 2025 | 57:0

Vice President JD Vance is tasked with filling the void left by his dear friend Charlie Kirk after his tragic assassination. Through heartfelt conversations with key figures like Caroline Leavitt, Tucker Carlson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, and Susie Wiles, Vance reflects on Charlie's legacy as a unifying force in the conservative movement. Together, they vow to honor Charlie's memory by continuing his mission of engaging in respectful dialogue and working towards a better future for America.

#News #Media #PersonalStory #Humaninterest #Grief #Tragedy #Government #Politics #Elections #Education #Faith #Family #Hope #Courage #Christianity #Witness/Witnessing #Leadership #Culture

Closed captions

Show Timecode

Charlie Kirk Today | Vice President J.D. Vance: The Legacy of Charlie Kirk | Charlie Kirk Today | September 15, 2025

Everybody.
00:00:09.799 --> 00:00:10.867
Jd vance here
00:00:10.867 --> 00:00:11.935
Live from my office in the white house complex.
00:00:11.935 --> 00:00:15.038
And filling in for somebody who cannot be filled in for.
00:00:15.038 --> 00:00:17.707
But i'm going to try to do my best.
00:00:17.707 --> 00:00:19.109
My dear friend, the great charlie kirk.
00:00:19.109 --> 00:00:22.345
The last several days have been extremely hard
00:00:22.345 --> 00:00:25.181
For our country.
00:00:25.181 --> 00:00:26.116
They've been hard for me,
00:00:26.116 --> 00:00:27.884
Hard for my family, hard for the countless people
00:00:27.884 --> 00:00:31.254
In this building who knew and love charlie kirk.
00:00:31.254 --> 00:00:34.124
And of course, they've been hardest,
00:00:34.124 --> 00:00:35.358
Most of all for his darling wife erica
00:00:35.358 --> 00:00:38.061
And their two beautiful children.
00:00:38.061 --> 00:00:40.830
The thing is, every single person
00:00:40.830 --> 00:00:43.399
In this building, we owe something to charlie.
00:00:43.399 --> 00:00:47.337
He was a joyful warrior for our country.
00:00:47.337 --> 00:00:49.873
He loved america.
00:00:49.873 --> 00:00:51.341
He devoted himself tirelessly
00:00:51.341 --> 00:00:53.343
To making our country a better place.
00:00:53.343 --> 00:00:55.845
He was a critical part of getting donald trump elected
00:00:55.845 --> 00:00:59.215
As president, getting me elected as vice president.
00:00:59.215 --> 00:01:01.918
And so much of our success over the last seven months is due
00:01:01.918 --> 00:01:04.854
To his efforts, his staffing, his support and his friendship.
00:01:04.854 --> 00:01:09.859
Was very honored.
00:01:10.293 --> 00:01:11.494
A couple of days ago, on september the 11th, 2025,
00:01:11.494 --> 00:01:15.798
To fly out to utah, where charlie was shot and killed
00:01:15.798 --> 00:01:19.903
To meet his wife, to meet his mom and dad, his his sister,
00:01:19.903 --> 00:01:23.273
All just incredible
00:01:23.273 --> 00:01:24.474
People who didn't deserve to have this happen to them.
00:01:24.474 --> 00:01:27.243
And i was also honored
00:01:27.243 --> 00:01:28.478
To be able to take charlie's remains from utah to arizona.
00:01:28.478 --> 00:01:32.015
It was an amazing, amazing thing.
00:01:32.015 --> 00:01:34.284
It was heartbreaking and it was sad and it was terrible.
00:01:34.284 --> 00:01:37.787
But what an honor.
00:01:37.787 --> 00:01:38.821
It was for me and my family to be welcomed in
00:01:38.821 --> 00:01:41.558
To the kirk inner circle at their moment of grief.
00:01:41.558 --> 00:01:45.295
There are a few things that i want to talk about
00:01:45.295 --> 00:01:47.096
Just from that that moment.
00:01:47.096 --> 00:01:48.565
First of all, when i first met erica, his lovely wife,
00:01:48.565 --> 00:01:52.669
And such an incredibly brave soul.
00:01:52.669 --> 00:01:54.904
I'm not sure if you saw her remarks after charlie died.
00:01:54.904 --> 00:01:57.640
If you haven't, i would encourage you to go
00:01:57.640 --> 00:01:59.209
And see them because you see this raw grief
00:01:59.209 --> 00:02:01.978
And incredible courage all in the same moment.
00:02:01.978 --> 00:02:04.781
And that's what we need right now.
00:02:04.781 --> 00:02:06.049
We need to grieve, but we also need this courage
00:02:06.049 --> 00:02:08.751
In this moment more than we've ever needed it.
00:02:08.751 --> 00:02:11.421
She gave me
00:02:11.721 --> 00:02:12.956
A hug and she was heartbroken as of course she would be.
00:02:12.956 --> 00:02:15.792
And she said that she loved him so much.
00:02:15.792 --> 00:02:20.163
And i said, erica, he loved you so much.
00:02:20.163 --> 00:02:23.399
He died way too young, but he died a happy man
00:02:23.399 --> 00:02:26.369
Because of you,
00:02:26.369 --> 00:02:27.704
Because the family that you gave them,
00:02:27.704 --> 00:02:29.339
Because the home and the life that you guys
00:02:29.339 --> 00:02:31.908
Had built together.
00:02:31.908 --> 00:02:33.643
And we sat for about an hour and we talked about
00:02:33.643 --> 00:02:35.745
Charlie. and,
00:02:35.745 --> 00:02:36.946
You know, in these moments, you don't know what to say.
00:02:36.946 --> 00:02:38.781
I'm a person who
00:02:38.781 --> 00:02:40.049
Literally speaks for a living, and i had no idea what to say.
00:02:40.049 --> 00:02:43.319
And i didn't try to console her because how can you console
00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:46.422
The person who just lost a loving husband and father?
00:02:46.422 --> 00:02:49.359
But we just talked about charlie.
00:02:49.359 --> 00:02:50.893
We talked about who he was.
00:02:50.893 --> 00:02:53.363
We talked about some of our favorite stories.
00:02:53.363 --> 00:02:55.465
We talked about some of his idiosyncrasies
00:02:55.465 --> 00:02:57.700
And all the things that made charlie kirk who he was.
00:02:57.700 --> 00:03:00.336
And she said something to me that i will never forget.
00:03:00.336 --> 00:03:03.373
My wife was there.
00:03:03.806 --> 00:03:04.774
It was just me and my wife on, on my side.
00:03:04.774 --> 00:03:06.976
And then a lot of people from the turning points
00:03:06.976 --> 00:03:08.778
Family, a lot of people from from charlie's family.
00:03:08.778 --> 00:03:12.081
And she said to me that charlie never raised his voice,
00:03:12.081 --> 00:03:17.053
That he never did her, that he was never cross
00:03:17.053 --> 00:03:19.989
Or mean spirited to her.
00:03:19.989 --> 00:03:21.424
And look, i am i'm a husband. i'm proud of being a husband.
00:03:21.424 --> 00:03:23.960
I think that on the
00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:25.194
Great balance of things, that i'm a pretty good husband,
00:03:25.194 --> 00:03:28.131
But i can never say that i was never unpleasant with my wife.
00:03:28.131 --> 00:03:32.602
I can never say that i've never raised my voice to my wife.
00:03:32.602 --> 00:03:35.872
Like most husbands, even the good ones were
00:03:35.872 --> 00:03:38.308
Sometimes imperfect, and i took for that moment that i needed
00:03:38.308 --> 00:03:42.478
To be a better husband,
00:03:42.478 --> 00:03:43.646
And i needed to be a better father
00:03:43.646 --> 00:03:45.515
Because of all these moments that i shared.
00:03:45.515 --> 00:03:47.817
Just in the last few days, the books that i've read
00:03:47.817 --> 00:03:50.553
To my kids
00:03:50.820 --> 00:03:52.322
Going up to their bedroom and kissing them
00:03:53.189 --> 00:03:55.591
And hugging them before bed,
00:03:55.591 --> 00:03:56.859
I just realized
00:03:56.859 --> 00:03:58.094
That all of these moments that i get to have, charlie
00:03:58.094 --> 00:04:01.030
Is not able to have them anymore.
00:04:01.764 --> 00:04:03.299
And charlie's kids and his beautiful wife
00:04:03.299 --> 00:04:05.668
Were not able to have them anymore.
00:04:05.668 --> 00:04:07.337
And maybe the best way
00:04:07.337 --> 00:04:09.172
That i can contribute, and the best way
00:04:09.172 --> 00:04:11.107
That i can honor my dear
00:04:11.107 --> 00:04:12.275
Friend, is to be the best husband that i can be, to be
00:04:12.275 --> 00:04:15.311
The kind of husband to my wife that he was to his
00:04:15.311 --> 00:04:18.815
You on a podcast
00:04:19.215 --> 00:04:20.316
A couple of months back, charlie was asked about
00:04:20.316 --> 00:04:21.918
How he'd want to be remembered if he died.
00:04:21.918 --> 00:04:23.853
His answer
00:04:23.853 --> 00:04:25.021
I want to be remembered for courage, for my faith.
00:04:25.021 --> 00:04:28.458
That would be the most important thing.
00:04:28.458 --> 00:04:31.260
The most important thing is my faith.
00:04:31.260 --> 00:04:33.930
And that was charlie and this dark moment for our country.
00:04:33.930 --> 00:04:37.567
I think that's the greatest lesson
00:04:37.567 --> 00:04:39.268
Any of us can take from charlie.
00:04:39.268 --> 00:04:41.404
To have faith, to have faith in the lord and to be bold
00:04:41.404 --> 00:04:46.376
In how we glorify him,
00:04:46.876 --> 00:04:49.178
To be bold in our pursuits as charlie was in his.
00:04:49.178 --> 00:04:52.382
So that's what we're going to spend
00:04:52.382 --> 00:04:53.883
A little bit of time doing this afternoon,
00:04:53.883 --> 00:04:57.453
Keeping this incredible show he created, going
00:04:57.453 --> 00:05:00.456
And hearing from some of the people
00:05:00.456 --> 00:05:02.091
Who were so fortunate to call charlie a friend.
00:05:02.091 --> 00:05:04.861
We're going to pay tribute to his courageous legacy,
00:05:04.861 --> 00:05:07.497
And we're to commit to keep it forever alive.
00:05:07.497 --> 00:05:11.634
I'm looking forward to this.
00:05:11.634 --> 00:05:13.002
Join us.
00:05:13.002 --> 00:05:14.737
I'm glad to be joined by carolyn leavitt,
00:05:14.737 --> 00:05:16.372
Our press secretary. carolyn, so good to see you, mr.
00:05:16.372 --> 00:05:18.775
Vice president. very kind. i appreciate your saying that.
00:05:18.775 --> 00:05:21.010
So let me let let
00:05:21.010 --> 00:05:22.912
Why don't you kick it off and tell us a little bit
00:05:22.912 --> 00:05:25.214
So those who don't know who are listening or watching
00:05:25.214 --> 00:05:27.683
You actually were involved with tpus
00:05:27.683 --> 00:05:30.186
A very early on when you were in college.
00:05:30.186 --> 00:05:33.322
Tell me about that experience and about getting to know
00:05:33.322 --> 00:05:35.658
Charlie kirk through that forum.
00:05:35.658 --> 00:05:37.326
Sure.
00:05:37.326 --> 00:05:38.528
Well, i'm a gen z conservative, so i was really raised
00:05:38.528 --> 00:05:41.831
Within the maga movement and within the maga movement.
00:05:41.831 --> 00:05:44.901
As a gen
00:05:44.901 --> 00:05:45.435
Z conservative means
00:05:45.435 --> 00:05:47.003
You're very much a part of the turning point usa movement.
00:05:47.003 --> 00:05:50.573
And so my political education was not just through the rise
00:05:50.573 --> 00:05:54.177
Of president trump, but also the rise of charlie kirk. yep.
00:05:54.177 --> 00:05:57.313
And watching him and listening to him.
00:05:57.313 --> 00:05:59.415
And i inquired
00:05:59.415 --> 00:06:00.616
About starting a turning point usa chapter on my college,
00:06:00.616 --> 00:06:03.719
Saint anselm college in manchester, new hampshire,
00:06:03.719 --> 00:06:05.822
Where i went in where my political
00:06:05.822 --> 00:06:07.824
Ambition and love of media and politics really began.
00:06:07.824 --> 00:06:11.227
And so just by watching charlie from a distance
00:06:11.227 --> 00:06:14.363
Was so inspiring to me as a young conservative woman.
00:06:14.363 --> 00:06:17.900
And then i got to know him personally when i decided
00:06:17.900 --> 00:06:20.536
To run for congress.
00:06:20.536 --> 00:06:21.671
And he was a tremendous supporter and friend. right.
00:06:21.671 --> 00:06:24.173
So you literally communicate for a living.
00:06:24.173 --> 00:06:27.543
You're the person that speaks to the american people
00:06:27.543 --> 00:06:30.580
In the world.
00:06:30.580 --> 00:06:31.614
On behalf of the white house every single day.
00:06:31.614 --> 00:06:34.383
Did you learn anything particular
00:06:34.383 --> 00:06:36.619
About the way that charlie kirk communicated with people?
00:06:36.619 --> 00:06:39.422
And what i always appreciated
00:06:39.422 --> 00:06:41.357
Is that though he was very smart,
00:06:41.357 --> 00:06:43.793
And though you see all these clips
00:06:43.793 --> 00:06:45.495
Of him owning people or of him getting the better of somebody
00:06:45.495 --> 00:06:48.598
In the debate,
00:06:48.598 --> 00:06:49.866
If you watch a full charlie kirk rally and all of the q&a
00:06:49.866 --> 00:06:54.237
And i was just talking with
00:06:54.237 --> 00:06:55.404
With andrew about this off camera, 90% of it is charlie
00:06:55.404 --> 00:06:59.041
Being kind and being compassionate
00:06:59.041 --> 00:07:01.611
And offering moral support to people.
00:07:01.611 --> 00:07:03.546
What do you take from charlie kirk, the communicator?
00:07:03.546 --> 00:07:06.649
So many things just by watching him and by being around him.
00:07:06.649 --> 00:07:09.852
But i think most of all, standing firm
00:07:09.852 --> 00:07:12.288
In your convictions and picking a fight,
00:07:12.288 --> 00:07:15.491
Especially when you know you have the facts
00:07:15.491 --> 00:07:17.260
And the truth on your side, but doing it with a smile.
00:07:17.260 --> 00:07:19.862
And that's something charlie did.
00:07:19.862 --> 00:07:21.197
So brilliantly and well.
00:07:21.197 --> 00:07:23.032
He would go
00:07:23.032 --> 00:07:24.333
To these campus reform events and he would say to the crowd,
00:07:24.333 --> 00:07:27.537
If you disagree with me, come to the front of the line
00:07:27.537 --> 00:07:30.172
And i find myself doing that in the briefing rooms,
00:07:30.172 --> 00:07:32.508
You know, taking on the reporters
00:07:32.508 --> 00:07:33.943
Whom i know
00:07:33.943 --> 00:07:35.044
Very much disagree with me and with the president.
00:07:35.044 --> 00:07:37.747
But as long as you believe
00:07:37.747 --> 00:07:39.115
In what you're saying and you have conviction in it,
00:07:39.115 --> 00:07:41.083
And you have truth in the facts on your side,
00:07:41.083 --> 00:07:42.919
It makes it a lot easier to say it.
00:07:42.919 --> 00:07:44.620
And that's what charlie did for a living.
00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:46.722
And i know he inspired me as a young voice.
00:07:46.722 --> 00:07:50.259
If we're for president trump now, like you said,
00:07:50.259 --> 00:07:53.029
Behind the white house
00:07:53.029 --> 00:07:54.263
Podium and, you know, before every briefing, i always pray,
00:07:54.263 --> 00:07:57.667
To jesus christ and charlie was outspoken with his faith.
00:07:57.667 --> 00:08:02.271
And i will continue to be in honor of him.
00:08:02.271 --> 00:08:04.640
But i'll also think of charlie
00:08:04.640 --> 00:08:06.008
And just how brilliantly he was able to combat the
00:08:06.008 --> 00:08:09.579
The lies with facts and to do it with a smile.
00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:12.081
Absolutely.
00:08:12.081 --> 00:08:13.082
So, you know, i always think of charlie kirk
00:08:13.082 --> 00:08:16.252
Debating sometimes these kids on college campuses
00:08:16.252 --> 00:08:19.622
And how the one part
00:08:19.622 --> 00:08:21.190
Of of your job
00:08:21.190 --> 00:08:22.692
That maybe would be harder if you went on college
00:08:22.692 --> 00:08:24.460
Campuses is
00:08:24.460 --> 00:08:25.294
I think some of these college kids
00:08:25.294 --> 00:08:26.596
Ask way better questions than the radicals
00:08:26.596 --> 00:08:28.564
Do in the white house press briefing room.
00:08:28.564 --> 00:08:30.533
That'd be like good, good
00:08:30.533 --> 00:08:31.467
Preparation for you in a lot of ways.
00:08:31.467 --> 00:08:33.135
Yeah, exactly.
00:08:33.135 --> 00:08:34.003
Tpo say was actually the varsity.
00:08:34.003 --> 00:08:36.472
Now you're kind of the jv level.
00:08:36.472 --> 00:08:39.141
With your opponents here.
00:08:39.141 --> 00:08:40.676
But but you do such an incredible job.
00:08:40.676 --> 00:08:42.545
And you were, of course, not just the white house
00:08:42.545 --> 00:08:45.615
Press secretary.
00:08:45.615 --> 00:08:46.415
You were also
00:08:46.415 --> 00:08:47.583
The main spokesperson during the trump campaign.
00:08:47.583 --> 00:08:49.819
And you know what?
00:08:49.819 --> 00:08:51.187
What made
00:08:51.187 --> 00:08:52.021
I want to ask how important charlie
00:08:52.021 --> 00:08:53.689
Was to the victory, because there were
00:08:53.689 --> 00:08:55.725
So many events that we did with tp, usa,
00:08:55.725 --> 00:08:58.761
Where i would show up and they were incredible
00:08:58.761 --> 00:09:00.763
And the energy was off the charts,
00:09:00.763 --> 00:09:02.331
And charlie would always
00:09:02.331 --> 00:09:03.332
Tell me whenever i went to arizona, he'd say,
00:09:03.332 --> 00:09:05.668
Don't worry about arizona, worry
00:09:05.668 --> 00:09:07.036
About michigan, worry about wisconsin.
00:09:07.036 --> 00:09:08.671
We've got arizona.
00:09:08.671 --> 00:09:10.039
Talk with a minute and 10s remaining,
00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:12.441
Just about how important charlie was to our effort
00:09:12.441 --> 00:09:15.177
To win and make donald trump the president of united states.
00:09:15.177 --> 00:09:18.080
The president has said it himself.
00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:19.815
The president's massive gains with young americans across
00:09:19.815 --> 00:09:23.853
The country was in no small part
00:09:23.853 --> 00:09:25.488
Because of the efforts of charlie kirk
00:09:25.488 --> 00:09:27.623
In turning point usa.
00:09:27.623 --> 00:09:28.824
And our team on the campaign was constantly checking in
00:09:28.824 --> 00:09:32.261
With him and keeping him apprized of what the president
00:09:32.261 --> 00:09:34.630
Was doing and saying, because we needed his voice
00:09:34.630 --> 00:09:37.366
To relay that to his audience, which is made up of
00:09:37.366 --> 00:09:40.269
Young people across the country.
00:09:40.269 --> 00:09:41.771
And the president spoke at many turning point events.
00:09:41.771 --> 00:09:44.240
He went into that lion's den at the invitation of charlie
00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:47.476
To get his message across.
00:09:47.476 --> 00:09:48.911
And charlie
00:09:48.911 --> 00:09:49.979
Was incredibly supportive of nontraditional
00:09:49.979 --> 00:09:52.214
New media strategy that the president took.
00:09:52.214 --> 00:09:54.517
And, you know, the president loved charlie deeply.
00:09:54.517 --> 00:09:57.820
You know that, mr. vice president.
00:09:57.820 --> 00:09:59.755
And i know that and i know he deeply is hurt by this loss
00:09:59.755 --> 00:10:04.860
Because, charlie played an instrumental role
00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:07.830
In returning the president to the oval office.
00:10:07.830 --> 00:10:09.765
And i just love that clip
00:10:09.765 --> 00:10:11.367
From election night when charlie realized
00:10:11.367 --> 00:10:13.202
President trump had won
00:10:13.202 --> 00:10:14.637
And he was speechless
00:10:14.637 --> 00:10:15.938
For one of the few times in his life,
00:10:15.938 --> 00:10:17.773
There were no words, just tears.
00:10:17.773 --> 00:10:19.775
Thank you caroline.
00:10:19.775 --> 00:10:20.843
Up next, the great tucker carlson joins me.
00:10:20.843 --> 00:10:23.846
We'll be right back.
00:10:23.846 --> 00:10:25.648
Joining me now is my friend
00:10:26.215 --> 00:10:28.250
And a close friend of charlie the great tucker carlson.
00:10:28.250 --> 00:10:31.520
Tucker, thank you so much for being here.
00:10:31.520 --> 00:10:34.123
And we have ten minutes. tucker.
00:10:34.123 --> 00:10:35.925
And just to give you guys for at home
00:10:35.925 --> 00:10:38.928
A little behind the scenes,
00:10:38.928 --> 00:10:40.196
The producer just showed tucker a sign that said rap.
00:10:40.196 --> 00:10:43.966
And tucker looked at it and said, this is expand
00:10:43.966 --> 00:10:46.736
On your point, right?
00:10:46.736 --> 00:10:47.737
So if we end up going 35 minutes, you'll know
00:10:47.737 --> 00:10:50.840
It's not the host's fault, it's tucker carlson's fault.
00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:53.409
We read what we want to read, but i had
00:10:53.409 --> 00:10:55.010
You know, tucker, i think you know this.
00:10:55.010 --> 00:10:56.746
And some of you know this because i wrote about it
00:10:56.746 --> 00:10:59.115
On x.com.
00:10:59.115 --> 00:11:00.216
But when x.com was twitter,
00:11:00.216 --> 00:11:02.818
I did an interview with tucker carlson tonight
00:11:02.818 --> 00:11:05.521
Show on fox news, and i got a message from a guy
00:11:05.521 --> 00:11:09.692
Named charlie kirk that said, you did a great job.
00:11:09.692 --> 00:11:12.862
I really liked what you said, and let's keep in touch.
00:11:12.862 --> 00:11:16.398
And that began the start of my friendship with charlie kirk.
00:11:16.398 --> 00:11:19.869
That was the first time i had ever communicated
00:11:19.869 --> 00:11:22.071
With charlie kirk.
00:11:22.071 --> 00:11:23.005
So you've known him for a long time.
00:11:23.005 --> 00:11:25.908
You talked to him
00:11:25.908 --> 00:11:27.009
About a lot of issues, and i want to talk in part
00:11:27.009 --> 00:11:29.278
About how
00:11:29.278 --> 00:11:30.513
To honor charlie's legacy, because i think that he modeled
00:11:30.513 --> 00:11:33.382
Civil discourse within the right.
00:11:33.382 --> 00:11:35.451
He accepted
00:11:35.451 --> 00:11:36.552
There were big disagreements on all these issues,
00:11:36.552 --> 00:11:38.320
But he thought we were all in the same team
00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:40.389
And we could debate this stuff, but actually have a drink
00:11:40.389 --> 00:11:43.058
At the end of the day and recognize
00:11:43.058 --> 00:11:44.660
That we were all trying to accomplish fundamentally
00:11:44.660 --> 00:11:46.962
The good of the country.
00:11:46.962 --> 00:11:48.230
So i want to talk a little bit about that before i get there.
00:11:48.230 --> 00:11:50.566
Just tell me about your buddy charlie kirk.
00:11:50.566 --> 00:11:53.302
What was he like?
00:11:53.302 --> 00:11:54.436
What did people who only know him from radio or tv
00:11:54.436 --> 00:11:57.706
Not appreciate about what a good guy was?
00:11:57.706 --> 00:11:59.842
That his christianity
00:11:59.842 --> 00:12:01.110
Was sincere and his commitment to jesus was totally sincere.
00:12:01.110 --> 00:12:04.613
And, you know, sometimes isn't, especially in public figures
00:12:04.613 --> 00:12:08.951
Who throw out bible verses they don't understand
00:12:08.951 --> 00:12:11.120
And stuff like that, but in his case,
00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:13.322
Not speaking in particular, but in his case, and informed
00:12:13.322 --> 00:12:16.592
Every single part of his life from his marriage,
00:12:16.592 --> 00:12:18.460
The way he treated his children
00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:19.428
To the way he treated his staff,
00:12:19.428 --> 00:12:21.130
To the way he approached disagreement,
00:12:21.130 --> 00:12:23.199
To the way
00:12:23.199 --> 00:12:23.899
He thought of other people,
00:12:23.899 --> 00:12:24.867
Which was always primarily as people first.
00:12:24.867 --> 00:12:27.303
And that was,
00:12:27.303 --> 00:12:28.971
You know, he was much younger than i am,
00:12:28.971 --> 00:12:30.639
And i met him when he was a teenager.
00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:32.374
So, i mean, he's literally the age of one of my children. so
00:12:32.374 --> 00:12:36.312
It is
00:12:36.545 --> 00:12:37.613
Kind of hard to take him seriously at first.
00:12:37.613 --> 00:12:39.915
And over the years that i knew him,
00:12:39.915 --> 00:12:42.852
You know, more than ten years, i ended up learning from him.
00:12:42.852 --> 00:12:45.287
And i'm not just saying this because he's past.
00:12:45.287 --> 00:12:46.856
I mean that sincerely.
00:12:46.856 --> 00:12:47.890
And the main thing that i learned from him
00:12:47.890 --> 00:12:49.925
Was how to disagree
00:12:49.925 --> 00:12:51.260
With people on topics that you take very seriously
00:12:51.260 --> 00:12:53.295
And that they take very seriously
00:12:53.295 --> 00:12:55.431
Without hating them or without feeling bitterness.
00:12:55.431 --> 00:12:59.335
I mean, he it wasn't, you know, if people knew
00:12:59.335 --> 00:13:01.470
What was going on behind the scenes,
00:13:01.470 --> 00:13:03.739
You know, there was a lot going on behind the scenes.
00:13:03.739 --> 00:13:05.841
And it was intense and it was bitter.
00:13:05.841 --> 00:13:09.011
And, you know, because the divide,
00:13:09.011 --> 00:13:11.180
Particularly in foreign policy questions,
00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:13.148
Is very real in the republican party, neocons versus
00:13:13.148 --> 00:13:16.619
The realists or whatever you want to describe it.
00:13:16.619 --> 00:13:17.987
He was on the real estate, for sure,
00:13:17.987 --> 00:13:20.189
But he was mad at the people who disagreed with them.
00:13:20.189 --> 00:13:22.791
He liked them as people.
00:13:22.791 --> 00:13:24.126
He agreed with them on some things.
00:13:24.126 --> 00:13:26.428
And he would always say that, you know, i agree in
00:13:26.428 --> 00:13:28.197
Private he would say that in,
00:13:28.197 --> 00:13:30.165
You know, i was involved in it
00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:32.334
Because people were mad at him for having me
00:13:32.334 --> 00:13:34.670
At his conferences or talking to me.
00:13:34.670 --> 00:13:36.872
And so we had cause to talk about it
00:13:36.872 --> 00:13:39.041
A lot up until he was assassinated.
00:13:39.041 --> 00:13:42.745
And i was so struck the whole time, i would say, you know,
00:13:42.745 --> 00:13:45.981
I would use the ugly language i'm famous for in private.
00:13:47.049 --> 00:13:49.118
And he would never talk like that.
00:13:49.118 --> 00:13:52.021
He was like, well,
00:13:52.021 --> 00:13:53.088
You know, i agree with him on this,
00:13:53.088 --> 00:13:54.123
But obviously i'm on your side in that.
00:13:54.123 --> 00:13:55.624
And he just never forgot there was a person behind
00:13:55.624 --> 00:13:58.360
Us, the views, and that inspired me.
00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:01.397
And god commands out of us.
00:14:01.397 --> 00:14:02.932
That is that's a real commitment in my opinion.
00:14:02.932 --> 00:14:06.035
And he lived it.
00:14:06.035 --> 00:14:06.802
That's exactly right, tucker.
00:14:06.802 --> 00:14:07.903
He treated everybody with respect.
00:14:07.903 --> 00:14:10.239
Him because he genuinely loved people
00:14:10.239 --> 00:14:11.874
And he genuinely wanted their salvation.
00:14:11.874 --> 00:14:13.642
He wanted them to have a relationship with god.
00:14:13.642 --> 00:14:15.344
He wanted them to to know the truth.
00:14:15.344 --> 00:14:17.680
He always treated them with respect,
00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:19.214
Maybe especially when he disagreed with this.
00:14:19.214 --> 00:14:21.917
And i think about this suit.
00:14:21.917 --> 00:14:23.419
You talked about foreign policy.
00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.687
That is one of the big divides on the american
00:14:24.687 --> 00:14:27.556
Right right now.
00:14:27.556 --> 00:14:28.624
And the thing that charlie seemed to understand
00:14:28.624 --> 00:14:31.627
Intuitively
00:14:31.627 --> 00:14:32.861
Is that the coalition that made donald trump the president,
00:14:32.861 --> 00:14:36.265
United states, and j.d.
00:14:36.265 --> 00:14:37.499
Vance, the vice president, united states, it included
00:14:37.499 --> 00:14:40.636
Tucker carlson, but also ben shapiro.
00:14:40.636 --> 00:14:43.672
It included people who did disagree vociferously,
00:14:43.672 --> 00:14:46.475
But agreed on 70 or 80% of issues.
00:14:46.475 --> 00:14:48.577
And fundamentally, the question charlie would ask is,
00:14:48.577 --> 00:14:51.013
If you're a good faith person and you're trying to do right,
00:14:51.013 --> 00:14:54.149
Then you are part of the big ten.
00:14:54.149 --> 00:14:56.118
And i think that's
00:14:56.118 --> 00:14:57.353
That's something that we have to try to model together,
00:14:57.353 --> 00:14:59.722
Because charlie's no longer around to do it for us.
00:14:59.722 --> 00:15:02.458
And one way in particular, i was very touched by this.
00:15:02.458 --> 00:15:04.827
I actually texted mark about this because, you know,
00:15:04.827 --> 00:15:07.329
You very generously have put out some donation link
00:15:07.329 --> 00:15:10.866
To help support charlie's family
00:15:10.866 --> 00:15:12.368
And think about, you know, eric and the kids.
00:15:12.368 --> 00:15:14.603
Most importantly,
00:15:14.603 --> 00:15:15.838
They're grieving the loss of a dear husband and father.
00:15:15.838 --> 00:15:18.207
But some of us,
00:15:18.207 --> 00:15:20.175
We are going to have to step in and fill the gap to provide
00:15:20.175 --> 00:15:23.712
For them in a way that charlie no longer
00:15:23.712 --> 00:15:25.647
Can't because he was taken down by an assassin's bullet.
00:15:25.647 --> 00:15:28.550
You know, i saw share that link was mark levin.
00:15:28.550 --> 00:15:31.320
Yeah.
00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:32.321
And i thought it was a really good example
00:15:32.321 --> 00:15:33.856
Of how charlie was able to bring people together
00:15:33.856 --> 00:15:36.525
From across our movement, so long as we were operating
00:15:36.525 --> 00:15:40.195
In good faith. that was the question.
00:15:40.195 --> 00:15:41.930
If you were good faith, you're on his team.
00:15:41.930 --> 00:15:43.699
That is exactly right.
00:15:43.699 --> 00:15:44.833
And good faith is the measure.
00:15:44.833 --> 00:15:47.036
And i you know, i just i have to say,
00:15:47.036 --> 00:15:49.271
I think now is exactly the wrong time
00:15:49.271 --> 00:15:51.507
To appropriate the memory of someone and the
00:15:51.507 --> 00:15:54.710
And the emotion that comes
00:15:54.710 --> 00:15:55.677
With that, the really intense emotion
00:15:55.677 --> 00:15:57.046
That all this feel and his murder
00:15:57.046 --> 00:15:59.281
And use it
00:15:59.281 --> 00:16:00.449
For your own parochial ends, like he stood for this,
00:16:00.449 --> 00:16:02.985
You know, and
00:16:02.985 --> 00:16:04.219
I think the reason that charlie was able to bridge the gap,
00:16:04.219 --> 00:16:07.489
Particularly in foreign policy, is because he had,
00:16:07.489 --> 00:16:10.459
For example, genuine affection for israel,
00:16:10.459 --> 00:16:12.494
Which he expressed to me
00:16:12.494 --> 00:16:13.429
In private many, many times, like i feel
00:16:13.429 --> 00:16:16.031
I don't think we should have
00:16:16.031 --> 00:16:17.266
Another forever war or regime change, war against iran.
00:16:17.266 --> 00:16:21.537
And i think that made complete sense to me.
00:16:21.537 --> 00:16:24.239
I sort of agree with that, actually.
00:16:24.239 --> 00:16:26.442
And so it allowed both sides to talk to him
00:16:27.376 --> 00:16:29.711
Because they felt like this person doesn't hate me.
00:16:29.711 --> 00:16:32.047
It doesn't need to get existential.
00:16:32.047 --> 00:16:33.549
It's not about disliking me or some weird bigotry.
00:16:33.549 --> 00:16:36.452
But i don't think it's helpful to for people to jump
00:16:36.452 --> 00:16:40.255
In particularly foreign heads of state, to say,
00:16:40.255 --> 00:16:41.924
This is what, you know, he lived for my cause or whatever.
00:16:41.924 --> 00:16:45.427
That's disgusting. actually, don't do that.
00:16:45.427 --> 00:16:47.296
That turns everybody off.
00:16:47.296 --> 00:16:48.597
You don't help your own cause by doing that.
00:16:48.597 --> 00:16:50.399
And it's also literally untrue.
00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:52.601
So i just hope that we can continue in.
00:16:52.601 --> 00:16:55.971
I'm not exaggerating the spirit that he operated in,
00:16:55.971 --> 00:16:59.141
Which is one of love for other people,
00:16:59.141 --> 00:17:01.243
Including people we disagree with and don't make it,
00:17:01.243 --> 00:17:05.013
You know, as small bore as that, that doesn't help.
00:17:05.013 --> 00:17:08.550
Yeah.
00:17:08.550 --> 00:17:09.284
So one of the issues, tucker,
00:17:09.284 --> 00:17:10.586
And i agree with you that that he
00:17:10.586 --> 00:17:13.188
Would express disagreements with the administration on
00:17:13.188 --> 00:17:15.858
There are two that jump out is one,
00:17:15.858 --> 00:17:19.128
You know, charlie was hardliner on immigration.
00:17:19.128 --> 00:17:21.663
He wanted us to control our borders as much as possible.
00:17:21.663 --> 00:17:24.133
He wanted us to ramp up the deportations.
00:17:24.133 --> 00:17:26.435
I remember having conversations
00:17:26.435 --> 00:17:27.636
With charlie where he would say,
00:17:27.636 --> 00:17:29.338
Why are the deportations higher?
00:17:29.338 --> 00:17:31.173
Why aren't you doing more?
00:17:31.173 --> 00:17:32.674
And i would talk to him, but it wasn't, hey,
00:17:32.674 --> 00:17:36.145
I don't understand this or i disagree with you,
00:17:36.145 --> 00:17:38.480
And therefore i'm going to blast you
00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:40.315
And assume that you're in bad faith. it's.
00:17:40.315 --> 00:17:42.584
I'm a free citizen.
00:17:42.584 --> 00:17:44.186
I love you guys.
00:17:44.186 --> 00:17:45.354
I supported you guys, and i'm going to use my platform
00:17:45.354 --> 00:17:48.757
To try to accomplish as much good as i possibly can.
00:17:48.757 --> 00:17:52.895
And i think that made him such an effective operator.
00:17:52.895 --> 00:17:55.097
And i would talk to charlie, say, charlie,
00:17:55.097 --> 00:17:56.565
Look, here are the reasons why.
00:17:56.565 --> 00:17:58.767
And it you've seen tucker,
00:17:58.767 --> 00:18:00.102
We've ramped up deportation numbers.
00:18:00.102 --> 00:18:02.271
We have actually
00:18:02.271 --> 00:18:03.639
There are a lot of people who are self deporting
00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:05.541
Because they don't want to be in the country
00:18:05.541 --> 00:18:06.942
Knowing that
00:18:06.942 --> 00:18:08.010
Eventually immigration enforcement will happen.
00:18:08.010 --> 00:18:09.811
But i think part of that success
00:18:09.811 --> 00:18:11.380
Comes from people like charlie applying pressure.
00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:14.149
Pressure is a friend.
00:18:14.149 --> 00:18:15.817
Pressure is somebody who cares deeply about the issue.
00:18:15.817 --> 00:18:18.287
And that's true.
00:18:18.287 --> 00:18:19.154
Also, i know we have about 90s left,
00:18:19.154 --> 00:18:21.456
But that's true about foreign policy.
00:18:21.456 --> 00:18:23.125
Like,
00:18:23.125 --> 00:18:24.426
I remember charlie calling me and saying, i'm really worried.
00:18:24.426 --> 00:18:27.029
And this is back in the summer when the iran strikes
00:18:27.029 --> 00:18:30.465
Were sort of first being contemplated.
00:18:30.465 --> 00:18:32.467
He said, i'm really worried this is going to harm
00:18:32.467 --> 00:18:34.069
Another regime change war
00:18:34.069 --> 00:18:35.771
In the middle east that we get trapped in.
00:18:35.771 --> 00:18:37.773
And i said, charlie, first of all, like,
00:18:37.773 --> 00:18:39.541
Have some give, have some faith here.
00:18:39.541 --> 00:18:41.410
The united states is not a believer in perpetual war.
00:18:41.410 --> 00:18:45.180
He knows the mistakes of iraq and afghanistan.
00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:47.749
He doesn't want to repeat them.
00:18:47.749 --> 00:18:49.284
But charlie was very clear that he could support israel.
00:18:49.284 --> 00:18:53.322
And by the way,
00:18:53.322 --> 00:18:54.623
He did eventually support the strikes on the nuclear facility
00:18:54.623 --> 00:18:57.626
While simultaneously saying, no more.
00:18:57.626 --> 00:19:00.596
This can't become a bigger thing.
00:19:00.596 --> 00:19:02.064
This can't become a broader thing.
00:19:02.064 --> 00:19:03.765
And again, i think he modeled a really good way of applying
00:19:03.765 --> 00:19:07.903
Pressure, of disagreeing when you do disagree,
00:19:07.903 --> 00:19:11.206
But also recognizing that so long as you're
00:19:11.206 --> 00:19:13.342
Operating in good faith, we're all part of the team.
00:19:13.342 --> 00:19:15.877
And that's something i'm going to try to take from.
00:19:15.877 --> 00:19:17.479
Charlie's legacy is not not that we're always right,
00:19:17.479 --> 00:19:20.449
Not that we can't take criticism,
00:19:20.449 --> 00:19:22.150
But that we all should try to work together.
00:19:22.150 --> 00:19:24.853
It didn't worry me
00:19:24.853 --> 00:19:25.921
Because i think your description is perfect.
00:19:25.921 --> 00:19:27.422
He one of the very few who took that message,
00:19:27.422 --> 00:19:29.191
And stood by it, i mean, right to the very end.
00:19:29.191 --> 00:19:32.227
This cannot get bigger.
00:19:32.227 --> 00:19:33.528
We don't want another regime change war.
00:19:33.528 --> 00:19:35.897
But man,
00:19:35.897 --> 00:19:36.732
Some of the people
00:19:36.732 --> 00:19:37.566
Who send money to turning point,
00:19:37.566 --> 00:19:38.834
His donors were very tough on him.
00:19:38.834 --> 00:19:41.370
So tough on him that i could feel it.
00:19:41.370 --> 00:19:44.339
You know,
00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:45.374
I talked to him a lot in the last few months
00:19:45.374 --> 00:19:47.409
And he was under enormous pressure.
00:19:47.409 --> 00:19:49.077
He never bent, he never became bitter.
00:19:49.077 --> 00:19:51.380
He kept his integrity to the very to the very end.
00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:54.116
And i just think it's important
00:19:54.116 --> 00:19:55.183
To say that because it's true.
00:19:55.183 --> 00:19:56.852
Joining us now is robert f kennedy
00:19:57.552 --> 00:19:59.855
Jr, our great health and human services secretary.
00:19:59.855 --> 00:20:03.625
Bobby, thank you so much for being here.
00:20:03.625 --> 00:20:05.460
And one of the things that i always took from charlie
00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:08.597
Was this idea that we needed to grow the coalition
00:20:08.597 --> 00:20:11.133
And expand the coalition.
00:20:11.133 --> 00:20:12.367
There's probably no person in the entire administration
00:20:12.367 --> 00:20:15.070
Who better exemplifies that than you,
00:20:15.070 --> 00:20:17.472
One of the leading consumer advocates, health advocates
00:20:17.472 --> 00:20:20.909
That exists in our country.
00:20:20.909 --> 00:20:22.077
But until a few years ago, more aligned given your name,
00:20:22.077 --> 00:20:26.848
You were a zion of one
00:20:26.848 --> 00:20:28.016
Of the great political families on the democratic side
00:20:28.016 --> 00:20:30.519
In american history.
00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.887
But now you're one of the most
00:20:31.887 --> 00:20:33.155
Important members of the administration
00:20:33.155 --> 00:20:35.057
In a republican administration.
00:20:35.057 --> 00:20:36.458
Maybe talk, if you would, just a little bit
00:20:36.458 --> 00:20:39.428
About charlie's approach to politics
00:20:39.428 --> 00:20:42.164
And how it ultimately made you one of the most important
00:20:42.164 --> 00:20:45.033
People in the federal government,
00:20:45.033 --> 00:20:46.301
How old charlie was, privately
00:20:46.935 --> 00:20:49.404
The primary architect of my unification
00:20:49.404 --> 00:20:53.175
With president trump.
00:20:53.642 --> 00:20:55.477
I actually announced my endorsement of president trump
00:20:55.477 --> 00:20:58.480
At a turning point rally at arizona,
00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:00.682
Which was his idea.
00:21:00.682 --> 00:21:03.051
And he was for people who were there, remember,
00:21:03.051 --> 00:21:05.921
It was all these kind of fireworks and
00:21:05.921 --> 00:21:09.391
Sparklers on the stage when we shook hands.
00:21:09.391 --> 00:21:12.194
That was all, charlie, i'm, orchestration.
00:21:12.194 --> 00:21:16.665
That was his idea.
00:21:16.665 --> 00:21:17.833
And he insisted on that.
00:21:17.833 --> 00:21:19.901
But i first met charlie in july of 2021.
00:21:19.901 --> 00:21:23.305
I had just written a book about anthony forgy,
00:21:23.305 --> 00:21:26.341
And he had me on a history of this very, very wide
00:21:26.341 --> 00:21:30.145
Ranging interview in which he really let me talk a lot,
00:21:30.145 --> 00:21:33.582
Which was unusual at that time because i was not allowed
00:21:33.582 --> 00:21:36.485
To talk on most outlets or, and,
00:21:36.485 --> 00:21:40.055
I think both of us approach each other
00:21:40.889 --> 00:21:43.191
With some trepidation
00:21:43.191 --> 00:21:44.493
Because we came from such different places.
00:21:44.493 --> 00:21:47.596
And that interview, i felt like i'm at a spiritual
00:21:47.596 --> 00:21:51.233
Soulmate, and our friendship blossomed after that.
00:21:51.233 --> 00:21:55.036
And even during the campaign, one, you know, he was,
00:21:55.036 --> 00:21:58.340
On escorting president trump.
00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:02.110
He always had a communication and outreach.
00:22:02.110 --> 00:22:05.147
And then after i made the endorsement,
00:22:05.147 --> 00:22:07.616
I saw him all the time, and he helped me
00:22:07.616 --> 00:22:11.052
A lot during the transition.
00:22:11.052 --> 00:22:13.989
As did you as the tucker and, and helped a lot.
00:22:13.989 --> 00:22:18.527
And my daughter in law, he really kind of
00:22:18.527 --> 00:22:21.263
Pushed her on,
00:22:21.263 --> 00:22:24.933
To get the job that she has today.
00:22:24.933 --> 00:22:27.702
So, you know, the thing that, you know,
00:22:27.702 --> 00:22:30.705
Is his his total commitment to free speech.
00:22:30.705 --> 00:22:34.409
And now it had been a theme of my campaign.
00:22:35.277 --> 00:22:37.679
I had been subject to censorship,
00:22:37.679 --> 00:22:39.815
Like so many other people during covid.
00:22:39.815 --> 00:22:42.684
And so that was to our country.
00:22:42.684 --> 00:22:45.387
So that once i understood,
00:22:45.387 --> 00:22:47.255
Hey, charlie and i talked about this
00:22:48.023 --> 00:22:50.859
At the, at the founders,
00:22:51.393 --> 00:22:54.463
He freedom of speech in the first amendment
00:22:54.463 --> 00:22:57.833
Because they knew all the other rights depended on it.
00:22:57.833 --> 00:22:59.868
If a government can't silence
00:22:59.868 --> 00:23:01.770
Its opponents, it has a license for any kind of atrocity.
00:23:01.770 --> 00:23:05.273
And, you know,
00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:06.808
As soon as they realized that we were going to put up
00:23:06.808 --> 00:23:09.277
With that,
00:23:09.277 --> 00:23:10.445
They went after freedom of assembly,
00:23:10.445 --> 00:23:12.047
Which was first, and it was social distancing regulations.
00:23:12.047 --> 00:23:15.016
They went after
00:23:15.016 --> 00:23:16.685
Freedom of religion, closing all the churches
00:23:16.685 --> 00:23:18.787
In this country. it was extraordinary.
00:23:18.787 --> 00:23:20.956
I mean, it's extraordinary that we get away with that.
00:23:20.956 --> 00:23:24.392
And by the way, they kept liquor stores
00:23:24.392 --> 00:23:26.561
Open as essential businesses.
00:23:26.561 --> 00:23:30.031
And after the fifth amendment, they shut
00:23:30.031 --> 00:23:32.634
All of our businesses. right.
00:23:32.634 --> 00:23:34.336
3.5 million businesses with
00:23:34.336 --> 00:23:37.038
No due process, no just compensation.
00:23:37.038 --> 00:23:40.141
They went after the seventh amendment right to jury trial.
00:23:40.141 --> 00:23:42.944
The seventh amendment says no.
00:23:43.578 --> 00:23:45.514
Oh, americans should be denied the right of a trial before
00:23:45.514 --> 00:23:48.316
A jury of his peers and cases or controversies exceeding $25.
00:23:48.316 --> 00:23:52.921
There's no pandemic exemption.
00:23:52.921 --> 00:23:55.090
And yet they were able to give these broad categories
00:23:55.090 --> 00:23:58.360
Of industry.
00:23:58.360 --> 00:23:59.427
These are these exemptions from any litigation,
00:23:59.427 --> 00:24:02.597
No matter how much they hurt you.
00:24:02.597 --> 00:24:05.200
They went up to the fourth amendment,
00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:08.203
A prohibitions against warrantless
00:24:08.203 --> 00:24:09.771
Searches and seizures
00:24:09.771 --> 00:24:11.006
By making us disclose our medical information.
00:24:11.006 --> 00:24:14.075
So the entire constitution came under attack
00:24:14.075 --> 00:24:16.811
As soon as they realized that they could go after
00:24:16.811 --> 00:24:19.481
Free speech.
00:24:19.481 --> 00:24:20.549
So we have 80s left on radio,
00:24:20.549 --> 00:24:22.417
And then we'll continue streaming for the folks
00:24:22.417 --> 00:24:24.352
Who are watching live on, on the internet,
00:24:24.352 --> 00:24:26.321
On other platforms.
00:24:26.321 --> 00:24:27.222
But to talk to me just a little bit
00:24:27.222 --> 00:24:28.857
About charlie's influence and actually politically
00:24:28.857 --> 00:24:32.527
Getting you to be the
00:24:32.527 --> 00:24:34.629
Secretary, because i remember he was such
00:24:34.629 --> 00:24:36.464
A strong advocate for you.
00:24:36.464 --> 00:24:37.799
He was so proud of the president and of you.
00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:39.901
When the president nominated you, obviously,
00:24:39.901 --> 00:24:41.903
Like all of our big nominees,
00:24:41.903 --> 00:24:43.371
There was a tough confirmation fight.
00:24:43.371 --> 00:24:44.940
Just talk, give, give us 50s on how important he was
00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:48.910
To making you have the position
00:24:48.910 --> 00:24:50.879
And the title you have right now.
00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:52.447
Well, you know, you know what the transition is like.
00:24:52.447 --> 00:24:55.417
You never know what's going to happen.
00:24:55.417 --> 00:24:58.153
And he was a critical eye for me
00:24:58.153 --> 00:25:00.956
And calling president trump and the first you know what?
00:25:00.956 --> 00:25:03.458
President trump asked me whether i wanted this job.
00:25:03.458 --> 00:25:05.827
I was tentative, i didn't know what i wanted to handle.
00:25:05.827 --> 00:25:10.031
Medicaid, medicare, which is the biggest, you know,
00:25:10.031 --> 00:25:12.701
Economic bmf. sure.
00:25:12.701 --> 00:25:14.669
And he really persuaded me that i should do it.
00:25:14.669 --> 00:25:18.773
And he helped me.
00:25:18.773 --> 00:25:20.775
I don't only making calls, the president himself
00:25:20.775 --> 00:25:23.178
Telling me people that i should call
00:25:23.178 --> 00:25:25.513
O off or heading strategically.
00:25:26.147 --> 00:25:27.515
But i just say one other thing before we sign.
00:25:27.515 --> 00:25:30.251
So let me pause there, bobby.
00:25:30.251 --> 00:25:32.120
This will continue on streaming,
00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:33.688
But for those listening on radio,
00:25:33.688 --> 00:25:35.924
I want to thank the secretary.
00:25:35.924 --> 00:25:37.225
And again,
00:25:37.225 --> 00:25:38.460
We'll keep on going for another few minutes off the radio.
00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:40.895
But i appreciate it.
00:25:40.895 --> 00:25:42.530
Thank you.
00:25:42.530 --> 00:25:43.565
And and now that we're, i guess off radio,
00:25:43.565 --> 00:25:47.636
Keep talking about this, this piece of it
00:25:47.636 --> 00:25:50.472
Because i think he was strategically brilliant
00:25:50.472 --> 00:25:53.775
And he was a good political operator
00:25:53.775 --> 00:25:55.810
In a way that i think so many people don't realize.
00:25:55.810 --> 00:25:58.013
Yeah.
00:25:58.013 --> 00:25:58.780
He was,
00:25:58.780 --> 00:26:00.982
I mean, he was an empresario, strategist,
00:26:00.982 --> 00:26:04.386
And he knew exactly the same thing.
00:26:05.153 --> 00:26:07.522
What amira was, he told her, make this phone call.
00:26:07.522 --> 00:26:10.191
Make this phone call this one first.
00:26:10.191 --> 00:26:12.193
This one? yeah.
00:26:12.193 --> 00:26:14.029
And he knew exactly.
00:26:14.029 --> 00:26:15.997
You know, he knew the he understood
00:26:15.997 --> 00:26:20.068
The uses of power.
00:26:20.502 --> 00:26:21.870
And he understood why this needed to be pushed
00:26:21.870 --> 00:26:24.539
To move the ball across the goal line.
00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:27.308
So he was very good on that.
00:26:27.876 --> 00:26:29.411
But so he was a pragmatist.
00:26:29.411 --> 00:26:31.546
But he was also one of the maia's
00:26:31.546 --> 00:26:33.314
Idealistic people that i've ever met.
00:26:33.314 --> 00:26:35.116
I was his principal preoccupation was with
00:26:35.116 --> 00:26:38.853
Conversation.
00:26:38.853 --> 00:26:39.688
He's a conversation
00:26:39.688 --> 00:26:40.855
Was the only thing that could heal our country.
00:26:40.855 --> 00:26:43.591
We have all these forces, and particularly the algorithms out
00:26:43.591 --> 00:26:46.861
And social media that are driving us support.
00:26:46.861 --> 00:26:49.631
And it's inexorable.
00:26:50.065 --> 00:26:52.200
There seems to be nothing that could stop it.
00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:54.235
And he understood that the only thing
00:26:54.235 --> 00:26:56.838
That could bridge that was debate was open debate,
00:26:56.838 --> 00:27:00.075
And that censorship was the enemy of that.
00:27:00.075 --> 00:27:03.044
And that in order to have real conversations,
00:27:03.044 --> 00:27:05.480
We had to end the vitriol.
00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.748
We had to stop being poisonous toward each other.
00:27:06.748 --> 00:27:10.251
We need to say what we mean without saying mean. yes.
00:27:10.251 --> 00:27:14.089
And he was just amazing.
00:27:14.089 --> 00:27:15.857
He was so respectful of the people, disagreed with them.
00:27:15.857 --> 00:27:19.894
He gave them the most respect
00:27:20.495 --> 00:27:22.163
And the great is hearing he wanted their voice.
00:27:22.163 --> 00:27:25.133
I saw on, you know, one of the networks
00:27:25.133 --> 00:27:29.270
Just now that there's alt against social media
00:27:29.270 --> 00:27:32.607
Because of their contribution, the polarization that
00:27:33.641 --> 00:27:36.611
Ultimately led to his death, this growing up of hatred.
00:27:36.611 --> 00:27:40.348
Ironically, i think charlie would revolt against that. yes.
00:27:40.348 --> 00:27:43.885
As he hated censor. yes.
00:27:43.885 --> 00:27:45.487
If what what he even said is the answer is conversation
00:27:45.487 --> 00:27:49.290
And dialog.
00:27:49.290 --> 00:27:50.458
And we need to learn to do that if we're
00:27:50.458 --> 00:27:54.162
If our democracy is going to survive, if we are,
00:27:54.162 --> 00:27:57.031
If we're going to survive, we need to talk to each other,
00:27:57.031 --> 00:27:59.634
Even though all these things are telling us not to.
00:27:59.634 --> 00:28:02.437
Yes, i talked to charlie.
00:28:02.437 --> 00:28:03.471
It was either the night of or the day
00:28:03.471 --> 00:28:05.206
After our debate with tim walz.
00:28:05.206 --> 00:28:07.108
And, you know, he was excited.
00:28:07.108 --> 00:28:08.710
He told me how great i did.
00:28:08.710 --> 00:28:09.978
And obviously, it's awesome to hear from a friend
00:28:09.978 --> 00:28:12.247
Who tells you that you did a great job.
00:28:12.247 --> 00:28:14.215
But he asked what i thought of tim.
00:28:14.215 --> 00:28:16.417
And i said, honestly,
00:28:16.417 --> 00:28:17.519
You know, because you get in this sort of bunker
00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:19.120
Mentality in the campaign, it's us was them.
00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:21.389
And i was like, honestly,
00:28:21.389 --> 00:28:23.358
Even though i'm glad that i think i did well
00:28:23.358 --> 00:28:25.360
And i certainly don't want this guy
00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:26.728
To become vice president,
00:28:26.728 --> 00:28:28.096
I actually kind of liked him afterwards after 90 minutes
00:28:28.096 --> 00:28:31.499
Of talking with him, and charlie said, that's
00:28:31.499 --> 00:28:33.101
Why i do all these debates, is like,
00:28:33.101 --> 00:28:35.236
You can disagree vehemently with somebody,
00:28:35.236 --> 00:28:37.806
But if you're actually communicating with them,
00:28:37.806 --> 00:28:40.141
It's it's really hard not to appreciate
00:28:40.141 --> 00:28:42.377
At least a little bit
00:28:42.377 --> 00:28:43.878
As a human being, even if you think
00:28:43.878 --> 00:28:45.146
There are 100% wrong on the issues,
00:28:45.146 --> 00:28:47.615
You can appreciate him a little bit as human being.
00:28:47.615 --> 00:28:50.018
And that's what charlie was so good at.
00:28:50.018 --> 00:28:51.486
So, with, with all respect to you and all gratitude for,
00:28:51.486 --> 00:28:55.323
For being such a big part of his life
00:28:55.323 --> 00:28:56.858
The last couple of years. bobby. good to see you,
00:28:56.858 --> 00:29:00.028
Mr. vice president.
00:29:00.495 --> 00:29:01.729
Thank you.
00:29:01.729 --> 00:29:02.964
Welcome back to the charlie kirk show.
00:29:02.964 --> 00:29:04.732
I'm jd vance, and joining us now is a very special guest,
00:29:04.732 --> 00:29:08.503
The white house chief of staff,
00:29:08.503 --> 00:29:10.138
The person of the united states calls the most powerful woman
00:29:10.138 --> 00:29:13.675
In the world.
00:29:13.675 --> 00:29:14.342
It always embarrasses her,
00:29:14.342 --> 00:29:15.577
Which is why i have to say it every time i introduce her.
00:29:15.577 --> 00:29:18.012
Susie wiles, who is such a vital role
00:29:18.012 --> 00:29:21.149
Of what we do in the white house
00:29:21.149 --> 00:29:22.183
Every single day, such a vital
00:29:22.183 --> 00:29:23.818
Role of the success of the 2024 campaign.
00:29:23.818 --> 00:29:26.187
Susie, i just want to say thanks so much
00:29:26.187 --> 00:29:28.122
For joining us here to honor charlie here.
00:29:28.122 --> 00:29:30.925
I want to tell you a little story.
00:29:30.925 --> 00:29:32.060
You may not be aware of this story, but
00:29:32.060 --> 00:29:34.729
And maybe you didn't pay attention
00:29:34.729 --> 00:29:36.064
To the social media chatter.
00:29:36.064 --> 00:29:37.165
But if i go back to probably six weeks
00:29:37.165 --> 00:29:40.168
After i had been selected by the president,
00:29:40.168 --> 00:29:42.136
I was the vice presidential nominee.
00:29:42.136 --> 00:29:43.972
We were campaigning hard,
00:29:43.972 --> 00:29:45.840
And there was a weird little social media campaign
00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:48.543
To try to get susie wiles fired from her job,
00:29:48.543 --> 00:29:52.113
And she was running the trump campaign
00:29:52.113 --> 00:29:53.648
On the social media campaign.
00:29:53.648 --> 00:29:54.916
It was it was a full on campaign.
00:29:54.916 --> 00:29:56.751
And i remember talking charlie kirk called me
00:29:56.751 --> 00:29:59.587
And he said, this thing to take down susie is an up meaning
00:29:59.587 --> 00:30:03.625
It's an operation meant to discredit
00:30:03.625 --> 00:30:05.827
Us, meant to make us less effective.
00:30:05.827 --> 00:30:07.395
And the reason
00:30:07.395 --> 00:30:07.929
He thought
00:30:07.929 --> 00:30:08.830
It was so important to protect you
00:30:08.830 --> 00:30:09.898
Is because he had such great respect for you.
00:30:09.898 --> 00:30:11.933
He thought you were such an incredible part of the team.
00:30:11.933 --> 00:30:14.369
You were sort of the person
00:30:14.369 --> 00:30:15.937
That held all the chaos together operationally,
00:30:15.937 --> 00:30:19.173
In the midst of that very intense campaign.
00:30:19.173 --> 00:30:21.242
And so charlie was thinking, as he always did,
00:30:21.242 --> 00:30:25.079
A little ahead of the curve.
00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:26.247
He was asking himself,
00:30:26.247 --> 00:30:27.682
What are the problems that are out there?
00:30:27.682 --> 00:30:29.317
So i can be 2 or 3 steps ahead.
00:30:29.317 --> 00:30:31.386
And he was fighting for you, maybe even before
00:30:31.386 --> 00:30:33.955
You realized that there was this thing against you.
00:30:33.955 --> 00:30:36.958
And it was never a situation where anybody ever doubted
00:30:36.958 --> 00:30:40.461
Susie wiles.
00:30:40.461 --> 00:30:41.629
But i wonder sometimes if the reason why you had such
00:30:41.629 --> 00:30:44.866
Good and strong support from the very beginning
00:30:44.866 --> 00:30:47.602
Is because
00:30:47.602 --> 00:30:48.803
You had such a powerful voice in the republican party
00:30:48.803 --> 00:30:51.272
Standing with you every step of the way.
00:30:51.272 --> 00:30:52.974
So i just wanted to tell you that because it's
00:30:52.974 --> 00:30:55.076
One of the reasons why i admire and respect you.
00:30:55.076 --> 00:30:56.911
I know charlie loved, admired, and respected you,
00:30:56.911 --> 00:30:59.681
But i've told my charlie story.
00:30:59.681 --> 00:31:01.349
Maybe talk in those days of the campaign.
00:31:01.349 --> 00:31:04.085
What an important part charlie was of our efforts
00:31:04.085 --> 00:31:07.255
And our ultimately successful efforts
00:31:07.255 --> 00:31:08.990
To install the boss in the oval office.
00:31:08.990 --> 00:31:11.726
Thank you, mr.
00:31:11.726 --> 00:31:12.894
Vice president, and thank you for doing this course.
00:31:12.894 --> 00:31:14.829
I have to have a charlie story
00:31:14.829 --> 00:31:16.431
That maybe hasn't been told, at least not enough.
00:31:16.431 --> 00:31:19.801
In the 2024 campaign, the law changed,
00:31:19.801 --> 00:31:22.937
Election law changed, and campaigns were finally
00:31:22.937 --> 00:31:25.740
Allowed to coordinate with outside organizations.
00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:28.676
One of the biggest expenses in the campaign is canvasing
00:31:28.676 --> 00:31:31.913
The door to door activity that it, particularly
00:31:31.913 --> 00:31:34.382
In a donald trump campaign, is critically important.
00:31:34.382 --> 00:31:37.518
And so we were we were liberated.
00:31:37.518 --> 00:31:40.088
We had license to coordinate with everybody, and everybody
00:31:40.088 --> 00:31:43.424
Came to the table and everybody was going to canvass
00:31:43.424 --> 00:31:46.494
At this level with this sort of fidelity
00:31:46.494 --> 00:31:48.896
To our plan and included charlie.
00:31:48.896 --> 00:31:52.300
And at the end of this whole odyssey,
00:31:52.300 --> 00:31:56.204
The person that really did everything
00:31:56.204 --> 00:31:58.806
They said they were going to do and more was turning point.
00:31:58.806 --> 00:32:02.010
He had an army of good people who were motivated
00:32:02.010 --> 00:32:05.513
And passionate, and they they delivered 110%.
00:32:05.513 --> 00:32:10.485
And i don't know that charlie gets enough credit for that.
00:32:10.485 --> 00:32:13.187
That was a tactical assist to the campaign.
00:32:13.187 --> 00:32:16.157
We didn't have to pay for it.
00:32:16.157 --> 00:32:17.592
We didn't have to think about it.
00:32:17.592 --> 00:32:19.227
We didn't have to follow up after him.
00:32:19.227 --> 00:32:22.063
It was an immeasurable help.
00:32:22.063 --> 00:32:24.899
And most of those canvassers were some of the same
00:32:24.899 --> 00:32:27.702
Young people that that voted for the president
00:32:27.702 --> 00:32:30.505
And convinced their families.
00:32:30.505 --> 00:32:32.206
So in many ways, it was really a pivotal effort.
00:32:32.206 --> 00:32:36.144
That's that's awesome to hear.
00:32:36.144 --> 00:32:37.478
And it's consistent
00:32:37.478 --> 00:32:38.513
With this theme that i've been
00:32:38.513 --> 00:32:40.014
Coming back to today, which is that
00:32:40.014 --> 00:32:41.649
Charlie was a brilliant orderer and communicate and debater.
00:32:41.649 --> 00:32:45.386
He would go to these college campuses
00:32:45.386 --> 00:32:46.954
And give them the courage to speak, to build friendships
00:32:46.954 --> 00:32:49.857
With, with fellow conservatives and republicans.
00:32:49.857 --> 00:32:52.527
But everybody knows that because everybody saw
00:32:52.527 --> 00:32:54.896
What they didn't see necessarily is that charlie
00:32:54.896 --> 00:32:57.899
Was this very effective
00:32:57.899 --> 00:32:59.667
Strategic operator at all levels of politics.
00:32:59.667 --> 00:33:02.637
And, you know,
00:33:03.004 --> 00:33:04.172
One of the things that the president always talks about
00:33:04.172 --> 00:33:06.207
Is that compared to really not just his campaign in 2016,
00:33:06.207 --> 00:33:11.279
But any republican campaign for the past 40 years,
00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:14.582
We saw young voters shift in every county,
00:33:14.582 --> 00:33:18.920
In every demographic white, black, rich or poor.
00:33:18.920 --> 00:33:22.090
Young voters shifted right in 2024.
00:33:22.090 --> 00:33:24.992
And this very profound way.
00:33:24.992 --> 00:33:27.028
Can you talk a little bit about what charlie did
00:33:27.028 --> 00:33:30.932
To make that happen,
00:33:30.932 --> 00:33:32.366
And why this youth movement that he really built?
00:33:32.366 --> 00:33:34.902
I mean, he was a kid when he started turning points
00:33:34.902 --> 00:33:37.405
Usa, how this youth movement, without any of us
00:33:37.405 --> 00:33:40.541
Probably being able to prophesize or predict it,
00:33:40.541 --> 00:33:42.910
Ended up helping us deliver the white house in 2024.
00:33:42.910 --> 00:33:47.281
Well, i explained the tactical benefit.
00:33:47.281 --> 00:33:49.484
We never saw it again about arizona or pennsylvania.
00:33:49.484 --> 00:33:52.520
Charlie had it.
00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:54.622
And as for the youth vote, i mean, he was he evangelized.
00:33:54.622 --> 00:33:58.226
He was on every college campus in every part of the country.
00:33:58.226 --> 00:34:02.563
And he was broader than that.
00:34:02.563 --> 00:34:04.198
A turning point event was something you had to be
00:34:04.198 --> 00:34:07.435
Had to pay attention to.
00:34:07.435 --> 00:34:08.903
I know
00:34:08.903 --> 00:34:10.138
President trump felt that way, and i think you did, too.
00:34:10.138 --> 00:34:11.973
And i struck by you had secretary kennedy
00:34:11.973 --> 00:34:15.009
On just a minute ago.
00:34:15.009 --> 00:34:16.777
And charlie was instrumental very, in secretary
00:34:16.777 --> 00:34:21.249
Kennedy coming to the ticket and you two. yup.
00:34:21.249 --> 00:34:23.951
That's right, i know that.
00:34:23.951 --> 00:34:25.987
And that's one of the things that, you know, i'm sitting
00:34:25.987 --> 00:34:28.556
In this office here in the west wing or white house complex,
00:34:28.556 --> 00:34:32.493
And if it weren't for charlie kirk,
00:34:32.493 --> 00:34:35.897
I would not be the vice president.
00:34:35.897 --> 00:34:37.165
United states.
00:34:37.165 --> 00:34:38.432
And i think about that a lot.
00:34:38.432 --> 00:34:39.867
I thought about that a lot of the last few days.
00:34:39.867 --> 00:34:41.802
I mean, other than the president himself,
00:34:41.802 --> 00:34:44.038
Charlie was maybe the most important person
00:34:44.038 --> 00:34:46.440
In both
00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.408
Getting us across the finish line,
00:34:47.408 --> 00:34:49.143
But actually getting me the nomination to begin with.
00:34:49.143 --> 00:34:51.612
It was his grassroots army.
00:34:51.612 --> 00:34:53.581
It was his advocacy that i think maybe a critical,
00:34:53.581 --> 00:34:56.317
A credible selection for vp in the first place.
00:34:56.317 --> 00:34:59.220
And obviously the president makes the final determination,
00:34:59.220 --> 00:35:02.223
But it takes a team.
00:35:02.223 --> 00:35:03.925
And charlie was such an incredibly important part
00:35:03.925 --> 00:35:06.561
Of that team.
00:35:06.561 --> 00:35:07.762
It's one of the reasons why i feel so indebted to him.
00:35:07.762 --> 00:35:09.797
And one of the reasons i mean, i worry suzy
00:35:09.797 --> 00:35:13.034
That he is fundamentally just an irreplaceable figure,
00:35:13.034 --> 00:35:16.671
And he is.
00:35:16.671 --> 00:35:17.672
There's no way that we can replace charlie.
00:35:17.672 --> 00:35:19.640
I mean, certainly not for erica and the beautiful kids.
00:35:19.640 --> 00:35:22.610
They're never going to get back what the assassin's gun
00:35:22.610 --> 00:35:25.546
Took away from them.
00:35:25.546 --> 00:35:26.914
But they the movement has to figure out
00:35:26.914 --> 00:35:31.485
A way of continuing and continuing
00:35:31.485 --> 00:35:34.021
To build on what he built and continuing
00:35:34.021 --> 00:35:35.990
To go to college campuses and talk to young people.
00:35:35.990 --> 00:35:38.926
And not just that, but when we won power,
00:35:38.926 --> 00:35:41.829
Charlie was a critical part of
00:35:41.829 --> 00:35:44.532
Getting us the right people of standing.
00:35:44.532 --> 00:35:47.134
So talk a little bit about that,
00:35:47.134 --> 00:35:48.603
Because other than the united states,
00:35:48.603 --> 00:35:50.004
The chief of staff is probably
00:35:50.004 --> 00:35:51.105
The most important person in the transition.
00:35:51.105 --> 00:35:53.441
Picking cabinet secretaries, picking all these important
00:35:53.441 --> 00:35:56.010
Staffers talk about why charlie mattered so much
00:35:56.010 --> 00:35:59.513
And not just helping us get there,
00:35:59.513 --> 00:36:01.315
But helping us succeed now that we're here.
00:36:01.315 --> 00:36:03.718
I think he worked in transition every day.
00:36:03.718 --> 00:36:06.020
He did in one place or another, doing one thing or another.
00:36:06.020 --> 00:36:09.657
And so very much
00:36:09.657 --> 00:36:11.392
The trump administration has his his imprint.
00:36:11.392 --> 00:36:14.595
My worry about turning point and i couldn't agree
00:36:14.595 --> 00:36:16.964
With you more.
00:36:16.964 --> 00:36:17.965
It has to be bigger and better and growing
00:36:17.965 --> 00:36:20.801
All the time is one of charlie's gifts.
00:36:20.801 --> 00:36:24.572
Was not talking at you,
00:36:24.572 --> 00:36:26.440
But engaging you where you were, right?
00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:28.809
And it's hard
00:36:28.809 --> 00:36:30.077
Sometimes, you know, tough things are coming at you.
00:36:30.077 --> 00:36:33.014
He never shrunk from that.
00:36:33.014 --> 00:36:34.282
So whoever i can't say takes charlie's place
00:36:34.282 --> 00:36:37.418
Because that will be nobody but whoever comes in to be sort
00:36:37.418 --> 00:36:41.622
Of a voice of turning point.
00:36:41.622 --> 00:36:42.890
They need to be somebody that's willing to engage
00:36:42.890 --> 00:36:45.926
At a level where you're not talking to
00:36:45.926 --> 00:36:47.595
The followers, you're talking to the people that are not,
00:36:47.595 --> 00:36:50.798
And engaging them where they are.
00:36:50.798 --> 00:36:52.300
That's going to be the hardest thing,
00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:54.035
I think, to to, to replace.
00:36:54.035 --> 00:36:56.037
I really agree with that. susie.
00:36:56.037 --> 00:36:57.471
And i've talked to a lot of the turning point staff,
00:36:57.471 --> 00:37:00.474
And what they tell me is operationally,
00:37:00.474 --> 00:37:02.910
Organizationally, charlie had built a machine.
00:37:02.910 --> 00:37:05.179
I mean, some of these people have been working with charlie
00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:07.081
Since he was literally a teenager, and he trusted him.
00:37:07.081 --> 00:37:10.384
Where i think he is genuinely irreplaceable
00:37:10.384 --> 00:37:13.554
Is, for lack of a better word, on the talent side of it.
00:37:13.554 --> 00:37:16.190
Right?
00:37:16.190 --> 00:37:16.857
How do you find a person
00:37:16.857 --> 00:37:18.059
Who goes into these places
00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:19.694
Who takes very difficult questions,
00:37:19.694 --> 00:37:21.429
Sometimes very hostile questions?
00:37:21.429 --> 00:37:23.331
And your point is actually
00:37:23.331 --> 00:37:24.665
Engaging with them is not talking at them.
00:37:24.665 --> 00:37:27.435
Now, there are all these social media clips
00:37:27.435 --> 00:37:28.803
And i was talking about this earlier.
00:37:28.803 --> 00:37:30.271
So forgive the audience.
00:37:30.271 --> 00:37:31.505
Forgive me for repeating myself, but
00:37:31.505 --> 00:37:33.841
He was not just the super viral clips of him
00:37:33.841 --> 00:37:38.746
Getting the better of a person in a debate.
00:37:38.746 --> 00:37:40.448
If you sit down
00:37:40.448 --> 00:37:41.716
And watch a charlie kirk event at one of these universities,
00:37:41.716 --> 00:37:44.952
It is 90% him almost acting like a big brother of his kids,
00:37:44.952 --> 00:37:48.456
Right?
00:37:48.689 --> 00:37:49.757
If it's a young conservative who's very nervous
00:37:49.757 --> 00:37:51.125
About the crowd and nervous about asking a question,
00:37:51.125 --> 00:37:53.627
Charlie steps up and says, don't be nervous.
00:37:53.627 --> 00:37:56.197
I was nervous at one point.
00:37:56.197 --> 00:37:57.832
Just speak slowly.
00:37:57.832 --> 00:37:58.999
Get your question out. he would coach them through it.
00:37:58.999 --> 00:38:01.235
If there was a young progressive
00:38:01.235 --> 00:38:02.870
Who is getting jeered by some of the people
00:38:02.870 --> 00:38:04.772
In the audience, he said, no, no, no, guys, let her speak.
00:38:04.772 --> 00:38:07.708
Let him speak.
00:38:07.708 --> 00:38:08.909
This is part of open debate, is they get to hear from us
00:38:08.909 --> 00:38:11.746
And we get to hear from them.
00:38:11.746 --> 00:38:13.447
And i thought that was just
00:38:13.447 --> 00:38:14.315
Such an incredible thing that he did.
00:38:14.315 --> 00:38:16.016
I mean, i've talked to a number of friends.
00:38:16.016 --> 00:38:17.518
I've talked to,
00:38:17.518 --> 00:38:18.619
You know, tucker, i've talked to laura ingraham,
00:38:18.619 --> 00:38:20.955
I've talked
00:38:20.955 --> 00:38:22.123
To a number of people about how we can try to replace
00:38:22.123 --> 00:38:25.793
That part of it, not in the way that charlie did it.
00:38:25.793 --> 00:38:29.163
Charlie is irreplaceable,
00:38:29.163 --> 00:38:31.132
But we can at
00:38:31.132 --> 00:38:32.299
Least have a team of people try to step into the gap
00:38:32.299 --> 00:38:34.935
And make sure that we're carrying
00:38:34.935 --> 00:38:36.203
This message to college campus, because if we don't do that,
00:38:36.203 --> 00:38:39.740
I think that's the way in which i worry about the assassin
00:38:39.740 --> 00:38:43.411
Winning is
00:38:43.411 --> 00:38:44.745
We've got to carry on the mantle,
00:38:44.745 --> 00:38:46.680
We've got to carry on the torch,
00:38:46.680 --> 00:38:48.649
And we've got to do it by continuing the message.
00:38:48.649 --> 00:38:51.152
Continuing.
00:38:51.152 --> 00:38:52.119
That's why i'm doing the show today, is
00:38:52.119 --> 00:38:53.120
I just wanted to send a signal
00:38:53.120 --> 00:38:54.822
That we're not going to let charlie's mantle be discarded,
00:38:54.822 --> 00:38:57.358
And we're going to keep on caring.
00:38:57.358 --> 00:38:58.526
And and one final thing that i wanted to talk about
00:38:58.526 --> 00:39:01.495
Is, you know, you mentioned bobby kennedy
00:39:01.495 --> 00:39:03.264
Earlier, and obviously he was on the segment before you.
00:39:03.264 --> 00:39:05.900
What charlie was so
00:39:06.367 --> 00:39:07.668
Good at was marshaling political action
00:39:07.668 --> 00:39:11.205
Into a policy outcome that's or person outcome.
00:39:11.205 --> 00:39:15.409
And this is where i want to talk about bobby.
00:39:15.409 --> 00:39:17.077
And he has so many of the
00:39:17.077 --> 00:39:18.379
Really good nominees that we had.
00:39:18.379 --> 00:39:20.314
They weren't easy to get across the finish line.
00:39:20.314 --> 00:39:22.450
And that's no insult to our great nominees,
00:39:22.450 --> 00:39:24.652
Great people are always going to be a little bit harder
00:39:24.652 --> 00:39:27.621
If it's a,
00:39:27.621 --> 00:39:28.289
You know, a person
00:39:28.289 --> 00:39:29.156
Who doesn't make any controversy,
00:39:29.156 --> 00:39:30.291
Who doesn't say anything especially controversial,
00:39:30.291 --> 00:39:32.827
That person is going to be easy.
00:39:32.827 --> 00:39:34.161
It's but but the president didn't want that.
00:39:34.161 --> 00:39:35.996
He wanted to staff the administration with people
00:39:35.996 --> 00:39:38.732
Who had interesting things to say,
00:39:38.732 --> 00:39:40.367
Who brought unique perspectives.
00:39:40.367 --> 00:39:41.669
And that meant
00:39:41.669 --> 00:39:42.903
That we were going to have some tough confirmation fights.
00:39:42.903 --> 00:39:44.872
Maybe, you know, we've got about two minutes left.
00:39:44.872 --> 00:39:47.308
Talk a little bit about the role that charlie played
00:39:47.308 --> 00:39:50.978
On the inside, on the outside and making sure
00:39:50.978 --> 00:39:53.514
That all of these great nominations that we had
00:39:53.514 --> 00:39:56.283
Actually got across the finish line
00:39:56.283 --> 00:39:58.752
In a town where we've got 53 gop senators
00:39:58.752 --> 00:40:01.522
And we could only lose three for any particular nomination.
00:40:01.522 --> 00:40:05.993
There were interest groups.
00:40:06.560 --> 00:40:08.028
There were coalitions and people
00:40:08.028 --> 00:40:10.064
That came to be trump voters.
00:40:10.064 --> 00:40:13.133
We don't have an exact number,
00:40:13.767 --> 00:40:15.669
But it was certainly more than a few.
00:40:15.669 --> 00:40:17.771
And now we have three and a half years
00:40:17.771 --> 00:40:19.573
To convert trump voters to being republicans
00:40:19.573 --> 00:40:22.843
So that in 2028
00:40:22.843 --> 00:40:24.478
We can keep the white house, the house and the senate.
00:40:24.478 --> 00:40:27.915
That's what charlie helped us think through.
00:40:27.915 --> 00:40:30.217
I'll speak for myself.
00:40:30.217 --> 00:40:31.218
That's what charlie helped me think through.
00:40:31.218 --> 00:40:33.587
Yes, his expertise was with young people, but he he
00:40:33.587 --> 00:40:36.857
He knew so much about everything.
00:40:36.857 --> 00:40:39.193
And he knew that there was this group of people we now call
00:40:39.193 --> 00:40:42.930
Maha that were out there looking for a home.
00:40:42.930 --> 00:40:46.033
He found bobby
00:40:46.033 --> 00:40:47.468
And introduced bobby into our world, and
00:40:47.468 --> 00:40:50.938
Now he's the secretary of hhs.
00:40:50.938 --> 00:40:53.240
So that's the kind of thinking
00:40:53.240 --> 00:40:56.043
That that we saw charlie all the time do.
00:40:56.043 --> 00:40:59.146
And, i think that the movement cannot be
00:40:59.146 --> 00:41:03.284
Or he cannot be replaced by any one person.
00:41:03.284 --> 00:41:06.320
He's got to be replaced by you, by donald trump,
00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:09.456
By so many others that can that that are good communicators
00:41:09.456 --> 00:41:13.694
And can be taking as well as giving.
00:41:13.694 --> 00:41:17.431
You heard from the white house chief of staff,
00:41:17.431 --> 00:41:18.933
It's up to all of us,
00:41:18.933 --> 00:41:20.000
Including those in the audience,
00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:21.201
To keep on the legacy of charlie kirk.
00:41:21.201 --> 00:41:23.771
Next up,
00:41:23.771 --> 00:41:25.005
I have some closing thoughts to share about my dear friend.
00:41:25.005 --> 00:41:27.341
We will be right back. thanks.
00:41:27.341 --> 00:41:29.710
Shortly after, usha and i left
00:41:30.344 --> 00:41:32.713
Charlie's family and charlie's remains in arizona.
00:41:32.713 --> 00:41:37.051
I wrote a story in the nation magazine about my dear friend
00:41:37.051 --> 00:41:41.155
Charlie kirk.
00:41:41.155 --> 00:41:42.022
Now, the nation isn't a fringe blog.
00:41:42.022 --> 00:41:45.059
It's a well-funded, well-respected magazine
00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:48.162
Whose publishing history goes back to the american civil war.
00:41:48.162 --> 00:41:52.199
George soros open society foundation
00:41:52.967 --> 00:41:55.703
Funds this magazine, as does the ford foundation
00:41:55.703 --> 00:41:59.373
And many other wealthy titans
00:41:59.373 --> 00:42:01.375
Of the american progressive movement.
00:42:01.375 --> 00:42:04.078
The writer accuses charlie of saying, and i quote,
00:42:04.078 --> 00:42:08.182
Black women do not have brain
00:42:08.182 --> 00:42:10.517
Processing power to be taken seriously.
00:42:10.517 --> 00:42:13.554
But if you go and watch the clip, the very clip
00:42:13.554 --> 00:42:16.657
She links to you realize he never said anything
00:42:16.657 --> 00:42:19.627
Like that.
00:42:19.627 --> 00:42:20.361
He never uttered those words.
00:42:20.361 --> 00:42:22.930
He made an argument against affirmative action as a policy.
00:42:22.930 --> 00:42:26.567
He criticized
00:42:26.900 --> 00:42:28.035
A specific supreme court justice as an individual.
00:42:28.035 --> 00:42:31.905
He never said anything about black women.
00:42:31.905 --> 00:42:33.774
As a group, he made an argument for judging people
00:42:33.774 --> 00:42:37.044
Of all races and backgrounds by their own individual merits.
00:42:37.044 --> 00:42:41.515
The very evidence she provides
00:42:42.149 --> 00:42:44.318
This hack of a writer shows that she lied
00:42:44.318 --> 00:42:46.954
About a dead man, and yet she wrote it
00:42:46.954 --> 00:42:50.124
An esteemed magazine published it.
00:42:50.824 --> 00:42:53.327
It made it through the editors.
00:42:53.327 --> 00:42:54.762
And, of course, liberal billionaires rewarded
00:42:54.762 --> 00:42:58.265
That attack.
00:42:58.565 --> 00:43:00.901
Now, of course, even if charlie had uttered
00:43:00.901 --> 00:43:02.736
Those words, it wouldn't mean that he deserved his fate.
00:43:02.736 --> 00:43:05.973
But consider the level of propaganda at work.
00:43:05.973 --> 00:43:09.243
Charlie was gunned down in broad daylight,
00:43:09.243 --> 00:43:12.780
And well-funded institutions of the left lied
00:43:12.780 --> 00:43:16.216
About what he said so as to justify his murder.
00:43:16.216 --> 00:43:20.654
This is soulless and evil.
00:43:21.188 --> 00:43:24.124
But i was struck
00:43:24.525 --> 00:43:25.826
Not just by the dishonesty of the smear, but by the glee over
00:43:25.826 --> 00:43:29.563
A young husband's and young father's death.
00:43:29.563 --> 00:43:33.834
She says.
00:43:34.134 --> 00:43:35.436
He was an unrepentant racist,
00:43:35.436 --> 00:43:37.838
Transphobic, homophobe and misogynist.
00:43:37.838 --> 00:43:42.242
The nation wrote, who often wrapped his bigotry
00:43:42.242 --> 00:43:45.446
In bible verses because there was no other way
00:43:45.446 --> 00:43:48.182
To pretend that it was morally correct.
00:43:48.182 --> 00:43:51.618
He had children, as do many vile people.
00:43:51.618 --> 00:43:55.189
That's what they said.
00:43:55.189 --> 00:43:56.356
He had children, as do many vile people.
00:43:56.356 --> 00:43:59.727
Now, hours before the smear was published,
00:44:00.561 --> 00:44:03.497
My wife and i had the honor of escorting
00:44:03.497 --> 00:44:05.799
Charlie's body back to his home in arizona.
00:44:05.799 --> 00:44:08.669
We took his wife, erica.
00:44:09.203 --> 00:44:11.238
We love you,
00:44:11.238 --> 00:44:12.473
His parents, his sister,
00:44:12.473 --> 00:44:14.641
And a few of his best friends with us.
00:44:14.641 --> 00:44:17.111
And as they offloaded charlie's casket from air force two,
00:44:17.111 --> 00:44:21.048
I worried that erica would collapse with grief.
00:44:21.048 --> 00:44:25.152
Now, i'm a very lucky husband to a very wonderful wife,
00:44:25.152 --> 00:44:29.389
But i have never been prouder of my wife.
00:44:29.389 --> 00:44:31.558
That moment, as she held erica in erica's very darkest hour.
00:44:31.558 --> 00:44:35.829
And i thought of erica as i read that
00:44:36.630 --> 00:44:38.465
Disgusting attack on charlie.
00:44:38.465 --> 00:44:40.501
He had children, as do many vile people.
00:44:40.501 --> 00:44:45.005
That's what they said about him.
00:44:45.672 --> 00:44:47.941
I said the lord's prayer.
00:44:47.941 --> 00:44:50.611
Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
00:44:50.611 --> 00:44:54.381
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth
00:44:54.381 --> 00:44:57.518
As it is in heaven.
00:44:57.518 --> 00:44:59.153
And i asked to show
00:44:59.620 --> 00:45:00.854
What erica had said to her
00:45:00.854 --> 00:45:02.856
Earlier in the day in a private moment,
00:45:02.856 --> 00:45:05.058
And i asked erica's permission to share this.
00:45:05.058 --> 00:45:08.028
My wife told me.
00:45:08.428 --> 00:45:10.631
She asked me
00:45:10.631 --> 00:45:13.267
For advice.
00:45:13.267 --> 00:45:15.002
Erica asked me for advice on how she should tell her
00:45:15.002 --> 00:45:18.372
Children that their father had been murdered.
00:45:18.372 --> 00:45:21.775
She asked my wife
00:45:22.209 --> 00:45:24.011
How to tell her beautiful kids that their father and my dear,
00:45:24.011 --> 00:45:28.916
Very dear friend is no longer with us.
00:45:28.916 --> 00:45:32.286
And as she was doing it,
00:45:32.820 --> 00:45:34.788
There were people dancing on that father's grave.
00:45:34.788 --> 00:45:38.425
Now, i have heard many calls in the last few days for unity
00:45:39.593 --> 00:45:43.897
And for healing in the wake of charlie's assassination.
00:45:43.897 --> 00:45:47.100
You have no idea how desperately i want that.
00:45:47.100 --> 00:45:51.038
How gratified i was
00:45:51.038 --> 00:45:52.973
When democratic friends and even former senate
00:45:52.973 --> 00:45:55.375
Colleagues reached out to offer their condolences to me.
00:45:55.375 --> 00:45:58.912
I'm so thankful, and i know there are so many
00:45:58.912 --> 00:46:01.982
Like them all across our great country.
00:46:01.982 --> 00:46:05.352
I am desperate
00:46:05.719 --> 00:46:06.987
To wrap my arms around them as we all unite
00:46:06.987 --> 00:46:10.023
To condemn political violence and the ideas that cause it.
00:46:10.023 --> 00:46:14.127
Psalm 133 tells us, behold
00:46:14.661 --> 00:46:17.397
How good and how pleasant it is
00:46:17.397 --> 00:46:20.601
For brethren to dwell together in unity.
00:46:20.601 --> 00:46:24.438
It is like the precious ointment upon the head.
00:46:24.438 --> 00:46:27.608
Oh, how badly have i craved that precious ointment
00:46:27.608 --> 00:46:31.044
In recent days?
00:46:31.044 --> 00:46:32.179
And i believe we can have it.
00:46:32.179 --> 00:46:34.882
But first.
00:46:34.882 --> 00:46:36.316
First we must tell the truth.
00:46:36.316 --> 00:46:39.419
It's the only way to honor charlie.
00:46:39.419 --> 00:46:41.889
For what was he, if not a man who told the truth
00:46:41.889 --> 00:46:45.592
In every place, in every environment?
00:46:45.592 --> 00:46:48.862
Now, the most important truth charlie told is this.
00:46:48.862 --> 00:46:52.199
That long ago a man begotten,
00:46:52.799 --> 00:46:55.435
Not made, came down from heaven.
00:46:55.435 --> 00:46:58.205
And by the holy spirit
00:46:58.205 --> 00:47:00.140
Was incarnate of the
00:47:00.574 --> 00:47:01.575
Virgin mary, and became man for our sake.
00:47:01.575 --> 00:47:05.112
He was crucified under pontius pilate, and suffered death,
00:47:05.112 --> 00:47:08.615
And was buried and rose again on the third day.
00:47:08.615 --> 00:47:12.119
Charlie believed,
00:47:12.552 --> 00:47:14.154
As i do, that all the truth he told flowed
00:47:14.154 --> 00:47:17.891
From that fundamental principle.
00:47:17.891 --> 00:47:21.461
I really do believe that
00:47:21.995 --> 00:47:23.697
We can come together in this country.
00:47:23.697 --> 00:47:27.401
I believe we must.
00:47:27.401 --> 00:47:29.569
But unity, real unity,
00:47:29.569 --> 00:47:32.806
Can be found only after climbing the mountain of truth.
00:47:32.806 --> 00:47:36.977
And there are difficult truths
00:47:37.611 --> 00:47:38.946
We must confront in our country.
00:47:38.946 --> 00:47:42.082
One truth is that 24%
00:47:42.082 --> 00:47:45.152
Of self-described, quote, very liberals
00:47:45.152 --> 00:47:48.121
Believe it is acceptable to be happy about the death
00:47:48.121 --> 00:47:51.725
Of a political opponent, while only 3% of self-described
00:47:51.725 --> 00:47:56.296
Very conservatives agree 3% is too many.
00:47:56.296 --> 00:47:59.099
Of course, another truth
00:47:59.099 --> 00:48:02.135
Is that 26% of young liberals believe political violence
00:48:02.135 --> 00:48:06.440
Is sometimes justified,
00:48:06.440 --> 00:48:08.608
And only 7% of young conservatives say the same.
00:48:08.608 --> 00:48:11.611
Again, too high a number
00:48:11.611 --> 00:48:14.181
In a country of 330 million people.
00:48:14.915 --> 00:48:16.917
You could, of course, find one person
00:48:16.917 --> 00:48:18.986
Of a given political persuasion justifying this or that,
00:48:18.986 --> 00:48:22.122
Or almost anything but the data is clear.
00:48:22.122 --> 00:48:26.827
People on the left are much likelier
00:48:26.827 --> 00:48:28.829
To defend and celebrate political violence.
00:48:28.829 --> 00:48:31.832
This is not a both sides problem.
00:48:31.832 --> 00:48:34.634
If both sides have a problem, one side has a much bigger
00:48:34.634 --> 00:48:38.372
And malignant problem, and that is the truth.
00:48:38.372 --> 00:48:41.141
We must be told
00:48:41.141 --> 00:48:44.044
That problem has terrible consequences.
00:48:44.044 --> 00:48:47.748
The leader of our party, donald j.
00:48:47.748 --> 00:48:49.916
Trump, escaped an assassin's bullet by less than an inch.
00:48:49.916 --> 00:48:53.520
Our house majority leader, stephen scalise,
00:48:53.520 --> 00:48:56.757
Came within seconds of death by an assassin himself.
00:48:56.757 --> 00:49:01.528
And now the most influential conservative activist
00:49:01.528 --> 00:49:04.164
In generations, our friend charlie has been murdered.
00:49:04.164 --> 00:49:08.568
This violence, it doesn't come from nowhere.
00:49:08.568 --> 00:49:12.439
Now, any political movement,
00:49:13.006 --> 00:49:14.674
Violent or not violent, is a collection of forces.
00:49:14.674 --> 00:49:17.077
It's like a pyramid that stacks on top.
00:49:17.077 --> 00:49:19.946
One support on top of the other.
00:49:19.946 --> 00:49:23.316
That pyramid got a foundation of donors, of activists,
00:49:23.316 --> 00:49:26.653
Of journalists, now
00:49:26.653 --> 00:49:28.021
Social media influencers, and of course, the politicians.
00:49:28.021 --> 00:49:30.857
Not every member of that pyramid would commit a murder.
00:49:31.958 --> 00:49:34.528
In fact, over 99%, i'm sure would not.
00:49:34.528 --> 00:49:37.764
But by celebrating that murder, apologizing for it,
00:49:37.764 --> 00:49:41.334
And emphasizing not charlie's innocence,
00:49:41.334 --> 00:49:43.970
But the fact that he said things some didn't like,
00:49:43.970 --> 00:49:47.507
Even to the point of lying about what he actually said.
00:49:47.507 --> 00:49:50.043
Many of these people are creating an environment
00:49:50.043 --> 00:49:53.313
Where things like this are inevitably going to happen.
00:49:53.313 --> 00:49:57.250
A couple of months ago, i had learned a fundraiser
00:49:57.250 --> 00:49:59.519
In southern california, and since,
00:49:59.519 --> 00:50:01.221
You know, we'd be out there anyways, my wife and i decided
00:50:01.221 --> 00:50:03.657
To take our kids to disneyland one weekend.
00:50:03.657 --> 00:50:06.893
We had fun, and to be clear, most of the guests said
00:50:06.893 --> 00:50:09.262
Very nice things or they just left us alone.
00:50:09.262 --> 00:50:12.132
But there was a loud
00:50:12.566 --> 00:50:13.767
And very vocal minority that would shout at my children
00:50:13.767 --> 00:50:16.736
Who are eight,
00:50:16.736 --> 00:50:17.904
Five and three whenever they got the opportunity.
00:50:17.904 --> 00:50:21.074
You should disown your dad, you little shit.
00:50:21.074 --> 00:50:23.343
One middle aged woman yelled at my five year old,
00:50:23.343 --> 00:50:26.713
Tell the secret service to protect the constitution.
00:50:26.713 --> 00:50:29.282
Not your father, screamed another.
00:50:29.282 --> 00:50:31.351
Are these women violent?
00:50:31.351 --> 00:50:32.586
Probably not.
00:50:32.586 --> 00:50:33.753
Are they deranged? certainly.
00:50:33.753 --> 00:50:36.189
And while our side of the aisle
00:50:36.189 --> 00:50:37.557
Certainly has its crazies, it is a statistical fact
00:50:37.557 --> 00:50:41.061
That most of the lunatics in american politics today
00:50:41.061 --> 00:50:44.831
Are proud members of the far left.
00:50:44.831 --> 00:50:48.135
After charlie died,
00:50:48.602 --> 00:50:50.137
One of his friends and one of our senior
00:50:50.137 --> 00:50:52.405
White house staffers had left leaning operatives
00:50:52.405 --> 00:50:55.609
In his neighborhood,
00:50:55.609 --> 00:50:57.144
Passing out leaflets telling people what he looked like
00:50:57.144 --> 00:51:00.413
And where he lived,
00:51:00.413 --> 00:51:01.548
Encouraging neighbors
00:51:01.548 --> 00:51:02.983
To harass him or, god forbid, to do worse.
00:51:02.983 --> 00:51:06.186
While he was mourning his dead friend.
00:51:06.186 --> 00:51:09.456
He and his wife had to worry about the political terrorists
00:51:09.456 --> 00:51:12.859
Drawing a big target on the home
00:51:12.859 --> 00:51:15.328
He shares with his young children.
00:51:15.328 --> 00:51:18.031
Are these people violent?
00:51:18.598 --> 00:51:20.400
I hope not, but are they guilty of encouraging violence?
00:51:20.400 --> 00:51:24.204
You damn well better believe it.
00:51:24.204 --> 00:51:25.805
We can thank god that most democrats don't
00:51:26.640 --> 00:51:28.808
Share these attitudes, and i do, while acknowledging
00:51:28.808 --> 00:51:32.646
That something has gone very wrong with a lunatic
00:51:32.646 --> 00:51:36.516
Fringe, a minority, but a growing
00:51:36.516 --> 00:51:39.252
And powerful minority on the far left.
00:51:39.252 --> 00:51:42.989
There is no unity with people
00:51:43.590 --> 00:51:45.959
Who scream at children over their parents politics.
00:51:45.959 --> 00:51:48.962
There is no unity with someone who lies
00:51:48.962 --> 00:51:51.398
About what charlie kirk said in order to excuse his murder.
00:51:51.398 --> 00:51:55.035
There was no unity with someone who harasses
00:51:55.035 --> 00:51:57.571
An innocent family.
00:51:57.571 --> 00:51:58.805
The day after, the father of that family lost a dear friend.
00:51:58.805 --> 00:52:02.776
There is no unity
00:52:02.776 --> 00:52:04.010
With the people who celebrate charlie kirk's assassination,
00:52:04.010 --> 00:52:07.881
And there is no unity with the people
00:52:07.881 --> 00:52:10.083
Who fund these articles, who pay the salaries
00:52:10.083 --> 00:52:12.819
Of these terrorist sympathizers who argue that charlie kirk,
00:52:12.819 --> 00:52:17.090
A loving husband and father, deserved a shot to the neck
00:52:17.090 --> 00:52:21.561
Because he spoke words with which they disagree.
00:52:21.561 --> 00:52:25.332
Did you know
00:52:25.632 --> 00:52:26.700
That the george
00:52:26.700 --> 00:52:27.901
Soros open society foundation and the ford foundation,
00:52:27.901 --> 00:52:30.971
The groups who funded that disgusting article justifying
00:52:30.971 --> 00:52:34.374
Charlie's death,
00:52:34.374 --> 00:52:35.508
Do you know they benefit from generous tax treatment?
00:52:35.508 --> 00:52:38.278
They are literally subsidized by you
00:52:38.278 --> 00:52:40.981
And me, the american taxpayer.
00:52:40.981 --> 00:52:43.316
And how do they reward us?
00:52:43.316 --> 00:52:45.051
By setting fire to the house built
00:52:45.051 --> 00:52:47.220
By the american family over 250 years.
00:52:47.220 --> 00:52:51.057
I'm desperate for our country to be united in condemnation
00:52:51.057 --> 00:52:55.262
Of the actions and the ideas that killed my friend.
00:52:55.262 --> 00:52:57.964
I want it so badly that i will tell you a difficult truth.
00:52:57.964 --> 00:53:02.736
We can only have it with people who acknowledge
00:53:02.736 --> 00:53:06.406
That political violence is unacceptable.
00:53:06.406 --> 00:53:08.942
And when we work to dismantle the institutions that promote
00:53:08.942 --> 00:53:13.747
Violence and terrorism in our own country,
00:53:13.747 --> 00:53:17.217
Our government, you heard me talk to stephen miller about
00:53:17.217 --> 00:53:19.686
This will be working
00:53:19.686 --> 00:53:20.820
Very hard to do exactly that in the months to come.
00:53:20.820 --> 00:53:24.424
We're not always going to get it right.
00:53:24.424 --> 00:53:26.259
We will sometimes move more slowly than you would like.
00:53:26.259 --> 00:53:29.029
We will sometimes move more slowly than i want us to,
00:53:29.029 --> 00:53:32.832
But i promise you that we will explore every option
00:53:32.832 --> 00:53:36.036
To bring real unity to our country
00:53:36.036 --> 00:53:38.938
And stop those
00:53:38.938 --> 00:53:40.040
Who would kill their
00:53:40.040 --> 00:53:41.241
Fellow americans because they don't like what they say.
00:53:41.241 --> 00:53:43.810
But you have a role to civil society.
00:53:44.577 --> 00:53:47.414
Charlie understood this well is not just something
00:53:47.414 --> 00:53:50.583
That flows from the government.
00:53:50.583 --> 00:53:53.720
It flows from each and every one of us.
00:53:53.720 --> 00:53:57.957
It flows from all of us.
00:53:57.957 --> 00:54:01.161
So when you see someone celebrating charlie's murder,
00:54:01.161 --> 00:54:03.797
Call them out in hell.
00:54:03.797 --> 00:54:05.298
Call their employer.
00:54:05.298 --> 00:54:06.700
We don't
00:54:06.700 --> 00:54:07.967
Believe in political violence, but we do believe in civility.
00:54:07.967 --> 00:54:10.804
And there is no civility in the celebration
00:54:10.804 --> 00:54:13.306
Of political assassination.
00:54:13.306 --> 00:54:15.141
Get involved. get involved.
00:54:15.141 --> 00:54:17.444
Get involved.
00:54:17.444 --> 00:54:18.478
It's the best way to honor charlie's legacy.
00:54:18.478 --> 00:54:20.547
Start a chapter of tp usa
00:54:20.547 --> 00:54:22.849
Or get involved in the one that already exists.
00:54:22.849 --> 00:54:25.418
If you're older, volunteer for your local party.
00:54:25.418 --> 00:54:27.721
Write an op ed in your local paper.
00:54:27.721 --> 00:54:29.556
Run for office.
00:54:29.556 --> 00:54:31.257
I can't promise you this is going to be easy.
00:54:31.257 --> 00:54:34.627
I can't promise you that all of us will avoid charlie's
00:54:34.627 --> 00:54:36.930
Fate.
00:54:36.930 --> 00:54:38.098
I can't promise you that i will avoid charlie's fate.
00:54:38.098 --> 00:54:41.468
But the
00:54:41.701 --> 00:54:42.969
Way to honor him is to shine the light of truth like a torch
00:54:42.969 --> 00:54:46.573
In the very darkest places.
00:54:46.573 --> 00:54:49.109
Go do it.
00:54:49.109 --> 00:54:50.910
We owe it to our friend to ensure that his killer
00:54:50.910 --> 00:54:53.413
Is not just prosecuted, but punished.
00:54:53.413 --> 00:54:55.782
And the worst punishment is not the death penalty,
00:54:55.782 --> 00:54:58.651
But the knowledge that charlie's mission continues
00:54:58.651 --> 00:55:01.921
After he's gone.
00:55:02.322 --> 00:55:04.758
Saint paul tells us in the book of ephesians
00:55:04.758 --> 00:55:07.427
To put on the full armor of god.
00:55:07.427 --> 00:55:10.530
Let all of us put on that armor and commit ourselves to that
00:55:10.530 --> 00:55:14.601
Cause for which charlie gave his life to rebuild
00:55:14.601 --> 00:55:18.204
A united states of america,
00:55:18.204 --> 00:55:21.574
And to do it by telling the truth.
00:55:21.574 --> 00:55:21.574

Vice President J.D. Vance: The Legacy of Charlie Kirk | Charlie Kirk Today

September 15, 2025 | 57:0

Closed captions

Share