U.S. Vice-President JD Vance accompanied Charlie Kirk’s casket because it arrived in his residence state of Arizona aboard Air Drive Two on Thursday.
Vance honoured Kirk, a detailed Trump ally and conservative activist, with a remaining flight and helped carry his casket with a gaggle of uniformed service members because it was loaded onto the airplane.
Air Drive Two arrived in Phoenix from Salt Lake Metropolis after Kirk was shot and killed whereas talking at Utah Valley College in Orem, Utah.
Vance’s spouse, Usha, stepped off the airplane with Kirk’s widow, Erika — each ladies sporting black outfits and sun shades.
The casket containing the physique of Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of Turning Level USA who was shot and killed on Wednesday, is faraway from Air Drive Two at Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 in Phoenix.
AP Picture / Ross D. Franklin
Vance and Usha have been initially scheduled to be in New York Metropolis for a 9/11 memorial ceremony on Thursday however travelled to Salt Lake Metropolis to fulfill Kirk’s household as an alternative.
In a tribute posted on X Wednesday, Vance stated Kirk was “a real buddy.”
Get each day Nationwide information
Get the day’s high information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
“The type of man you might say one thing to and know it might at all times stick with him. I’m on quite a lot of group chats with Charlie and folks he launched me to through the years. We rejoice weddings and infants, bust one another’s chops, and mourn the lack of family members,” Vance wrote.
Vance stated somebody identified that Kirk “died doing what he liked: discussing concepts.”
He additionally stated Kirk was “an incredible household man.”
“I used to be speaking to President Trump within the Oval Workplace right now, and he stated, ‘I do know he was an excellent buddy of yours.’ I nodded silently, and President Trump noticed that Charlie actually liked his household. The president was proper. Charlie was so happy with Erika and the 2 children. He was so blissful to be a father,” Vance added.
“You ran race, my buddy. We’ve obtained it from right here.”
After Utah Gov. Spencer Cox introduced {that a} suspect is now in custody in reference to the capturing loss of life of Kirk, Vance said he is “grateful” for Cox, FBI Director Kash Patel and the FBI “for giving this case the time, sources, and arduous work it deserved.”
“It is a huge breakthrough, and everybody who helped–from the legislation enforcement professionals to the individuals giving suggestions–deserves our credit score and gratitude,” Vance wrote.
— With recordsdata from International Information’ Ari Rabinovitch and The Related Press
© 2025 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
