Vice President JD Vance has arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport today with Charlie Kirk’s family and casket.
Vance, who had a close relationship with Kirk, flew to Salt Lake City, Utah, earlier today to retrieve the remains. He placed a hand on the casket and walked alongside uniformed personnel as they carried Kirk’s remains to Air Force Two today, video from the tarmac posted by Tyler Bowyer, Turning Point USA’s chief operating officer, shows.
The casket was then flown on Air Force Two to Phoenix, Arizona, where Kirk lived before his death. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance also escorted Kirk’s wife and two children back to their home state.
Vance will escort Kirk’s family and the remains off the plane, but will not leave the airport and will reboard Air Force Two shortly after landing, according to a source familiar with the plans. The family plans to take Kirk’s body to a private place.
Vance on Wednesday called Kirk a “true friend” and detailed his relationship with the conservative activist in a roughly 1,000-word eulogy on X.
The Utah Valley University student who was asking a question about mass shootings when Charlie Kirk was shot and killed says he is struggling to grapple with what happened.
“It’s a tragedy,” Hunter Kozak said in an Instagram video. “It’s hard to grapple with.”
In the full video statement that he posted, he walked through the moment of the shooting, and said it had been “a rough 24 hours” since the incident occurred.
Kozak shared clips from previous videos he posted on social media discussing his disagreements with Kirk’s comments, and explained why he decided to go to the event and ask Kirk his question.
But in reaction to the shooting, he said to those who may think this is the answer, “It’s not.”
“I’m on the record with how much I disagree with Charlie Kirk but like, man dude, he is still a human being. Have we forgotten that?” he asked.
Kozak, a father of two, expressed sympathy for Kirk’s children.
“Charlie had two kids and a wife. And like, not to make this about me, but I have two kids and a wife. And if my 1-year-old boy, like his 1-year-old boy, grew up without memories of his dad, it’s a tragedy,” Kozak said.
“People have obviously pointed to the irony that the point I was trying to make is how peaceful the left was right before he got shot, and that only makes sense if we stay peaceful,” he said.
Vance escorts Kirk’s casket to Air Force Two, video shows
Vice President JD Vance placed a hand on Charlie Kirk’s casket and walked alongside uniformed personnel as they carried Kirk’s remains to Air Force Two today, video from the tarmac posted by Tyler Bowyer, Turning Point USA’s chief operating officer, shows.
No one is talking in the video as the vice president and others move Kirk’s remains to the plane. There is a group of people standing nearby, watching.
Vance and the second lady flew to Utah today to retrieve the remains. They will be flown on Air Force Two back to Arizona, two sources familiar told CNN.
