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JD Vance makes huge blunder as he seemingly 'blames Trump administration for Charlie Kirk's death'
JD Vance has faced backlash after a speech at a Turning Point USA event took a strange turn when he appeared to blame his own administration for Charlie Kirk’s death.
Kirk was shot while speaking at a college event in Utah, and his death has sparked outrage among his supporters and allies. Far-right activists and commentators have used the killing to attack their political opponents and call for action against so-called radicals in the US.
While speaking to supporters at the event, which was organised by the group Kirk co-founded, Vance appeared to make a serious slip-up in the way he spoke about Kirk’s legacy. A clip of the moment spread widely on social media, with many people highlighting the gaffe and questioning the message Vance delivered.
Vance’s speech gaffe draws scrutiny
In his speech, Vance said, per ABC News: "If you miss Charlie Kirk, do you promise to fight what he died for?" The phrasing could have been intended to be 'fight for what he died for', but instead made it sound like he was asking people to fight what Kirk died for. The clip circulated online, and commenters pointed out the mistake and linked it back to the fact that Kirk’s death occurred while Donald Trump was in the White House.
One person wrote: "Take the country back from...the Trump administration?" A second person posted: "Take it back? They’re the ones with all the power right now. Lol".
Reactions to the speech and Kirk’s widow
Others criticised Vance for the way he appeared to use Kirk’s death for political purposes. One writer said: "It was one person who took Charlie Kirk’s life and Vance is exploiting the murder of his friend for political gain."
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has also been in the spotlight since her husband’s death. After she shared a Christmas message urging people to "find some alone time with the Lord and your family", critics responded harshly.
One wrote: “I know when I grieve, I always feel better when I go on a massive publicity tour selling books, t shirts, and supplements.” Another comment stated: “Using Christmas and her dead husband’s name to make money is blasphemy."