Remarks on Charlie Kirk Shooting - Sep. 14, 2025

Good evening, everyone. Good evening. Please be seated. Thank you so much. It’s such an honor to be here, behind a podium, I’m very comfortable behind podiums. And it’s really comforting to be around so many good, faithful, God-fearing people at a time when I know we are all still mourning, we are confused, we are angry over the assassination of a legendary American and a friend to so many in this room, and so many across the country, Charlie Kirk. The presence of God, and He is a good God, as Erika Kirk so beautifully and powerfully stated, He is a good God. He is clearly present in this room tonight. You can feel the spirit moving and working in this room as we remember Charlie’s life and his legacy.

I have the honor of going to work every day at the White House as the press secretary for the forty-seventh president of the United States, President Donald Trump.

[Cheers, applause]

And I repeat that because I would not be in this position if not for the heroic efforts of Charlie Kirk, who turned the political tide among young people in this country and helped usher in President Trump’s historic victory on November 5, 2024.

[Applause]

And I know that point has been said over and over by so many over the last few days but it’s because that point is absolutely true. President Trump’s win in November was fueled, in no small part, by the tireless work of Charlie, the Turning Point organization that he built from scratch out of a garage, the true essence of the American dream, and the MAGA movement that he helped so many young people join. -

Charlie fundamentally believed in the potential, in the promise of so many in this room, young, patriotic Americans. And he inspired millions of us across the country to get off the couch and to enter the political arena to fight for our nation’s conservative values. And I, too, was one of those young people. When I launched my campaign for Congress at just 23 years old, during the 2022 midterm elections, most people in this town, pretty much all of the people in this town of Washington did not take me seriously. Charlie Kirk, however, did. Charlie and his political PAC, Turning Point Action, immediately embraced me with open arms and endorsed my campaign. Charlie personally and his team would check in with me throughout the campaign, they asked how they could help. And when Washington SuperPACs poured money into the coffers of my opponent’s campaigns, Charlie and Turning Point gave more to me to help me across the finish line. Charlie and his team flew me out to Arizona to introduce me to some of the biggest donors in Republican politics so I could fuel my race, Charlie welcomed me onstage to speak at the Student Action Summit in Florida, to raise national awareness for my candidacy and to speak directly to young voters. And when most played it safe and stuck to the business-as-usual approach of establishment Republican party that no longer exists, Charlie looked—

[Applause] Charlie looked for the outsiders, the up-and-coming truthtellers, with new ideas who weren’t afraid to challenge the status quo, just like President Trump whom he loved so much. And I speak on behalf of the president when I say President Trump loved you, Charlie, so much too.

[Applause]

When the president appointed me as White House press secretary, Charlie was one of the first people to reach out and congratulate me with genuine sincerity. I still have that text from him, and I will keep it forever.

Charlie Kirk was a maverick. An independent minded person who had the courage of his convictions. When so many influential voices in our society are brainwashing young people to abandon our faith, to stay single, not to have children, and to bash our country, Charlie Kirk offered us an alternative path. Charlie embraced our lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and proclaimed the Gospel boldly and proudly.

[Applause]

Charlie preached a message of faith to all who would listen, he encouraged young people to get married and to have children, and as a young person who has done it, I encourage you to do that, as well, it is the best thing in life. It is the ultimate legacy that we can leave and our most important mission on this earth. Charlie celebrated American exceptionalism, and as you heard from our great Speaker of the House, he firmly believed, and he proclaimed, that America is the greatest country in the history of the world, and that’s why—

[Applause]

And that’s why we must continue to fight to protect her. Simply put, Charlie was a beaming light in a world that is so consumed by darkness. It’s going to take all of us in this room, and all of us across the country to take up Charlie’s torch. Because that’s exactly what he would want us to do. We have to lean on our faith, dig in, and fight back harder than ever before for the beliefs and the convictions that Charlie Kirk gave his life for. That’s how we’ll honor his family and that’s how we will honor his legacy. If Erika Kirk, God bless her, could speak so powerfully in front of the entire nation, just two days after her beloved husband was stolen from her and their two beautiful, precious children, then every single person in this room can rededicate themselves to the righteous cause of keeping America the greatest country in the history of the world.

[Applause]

So, as I continue to step before the White House podium, I will continue to pray to our lord and savior, Jesus Christ, but starting tomorrow, every time I take that podium, I will think of Charlie Kirk. I will remain inspired by his courage and his conviction, and I will continue to speak the truth as Charlie did so well. I will leave you all with a scripture that feels so perfectly written for the time we are in. Romans 12:21: do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. We cannot allow evil to prevail in our beautiful country. We must all commit ourselves to doing good. Good for God, good for our families, and good for our families, and good for our nation—in that order. The order that Charlie always spoke about. May God bless you and keep all of you in this room. Thank you.