CNN Analyst Van Jones Reveals Final Message From Charlie Kirk Just One Day Before His Assassination
The political world continues to grapple with the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, who was assassinated earlier this month while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University. As thousands gathered at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, for his memorial service, a surprising revelation emerged: CNN analyst Van Jones shared the final message he received from Kirk, sent just a day before the fatal attack.
The message, described by Jones as “shocking,” painted a different picture of Kirk than the public might expect, particularly given their adversarial history. For Jones, it was a reminder that, even in the midst of political conflict, Kirk’s last outreach was not about division, but about dialogue.
A Nation in Mourning
Charlie Kirk’s memorial, titled “Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk,” drew thousands in person and more than 100,000 online viewers on the streaming platform Rumble. The event, organized by Turning Point USA, invited attendees to dress in “Sunday best” attire in red, white, or blue, and featured speeches from family, colleagues, and political leaders — including former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
The State Farm Stadium, more accustomed to hosting football games and concerts, became the site of a deeply emotional farewell for one of America’s most polarizing yet influential young conservative voices.
The Assassination That Shook the Country
Kirk was killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University as part of his “American Comeback” tour. Witnesses reported that the activist had just begun addressing the crowd of over 3,000 when a gunman opened fire, striking him fatally in the neck.
The shooter, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested two days later following an FBI manhunt. Robinson now faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and witness tampering. Prosecutors have announced their intent to seek the death penalty, underscoring the severity of the crime and its impact on national security and public discourse.
Van Jones Discloses Kirk’s Final Message
Speaking during CNN’s coverage of the memorial, Van Jones revealed a personal detail that caught many by surprise. Just a day before the assassination, Jones received a direct message from Kirk inviting him to appear on his show.
The message read:
“Hey Van, I mean it, I’d love to have you on my show to have a respectful conversation about crime and race. I would be a gentleman as I know you would be as well. We can disagree about the issues agreeably.”
Jones admitted he was “shocked” to receive such a message, noting that he and Kirk had been “beefing hard” in the days leading up to it. Their exchanges on social media and in commentary had been heated, reflecting the stark ideological divide between them.
“Charlie Kirk and I were not friends. At all,” Jones emphasized. Yet, he explained that the message revealed Kirk’s willingness to engage in constructive dialogue — even with one of his fiercest critics.
Why Jones Chose to Share the Message
For Jones, the decision to share Kirk’s final outreach was not easy. He wrestled with whether it would be appropriate to disclose a private message in such a charged moment. Ultimately, he felt it was important to provide the public with a fuller picture of who Kirk was in his final hours.
“In the past week and a half, just watching people talk about civil wars and censorship and all this stuff coming out of his death, I just thought it was important to let people know — don’t put that on Charlie Kirk,” Jones said.
He added: “The last day of his life, he was reaching out to have not more censorship, but more conversation, more dialogue, with somebody who, honestly, was one of his adversaries — me.”
A Divided Nation Confronts the Aftermath
Kirk’s assassination has reignited debates across the political spectrum about the state of political violence in the United States. While supporters have framed his death as a direct attack on free speech and conservative values, critics argue that the heated rhetoric of recent years has created an environment ripe for violence.
At the memorial, Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, delivered a fiery speech, declaring: “You thought you could kill Charlie Kirk, you have made him a martyr… You cannot defeat us, you cannot slow us, you cannot stop us, you cannot deter us. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened.”
Former President Trump also took the stage, vowing that Kirk’s mission would continue through the work of Turning Point USA and its supporters.
Erika Kirk Speaks Out
Kirk’s widow, Erika, also addressed the memorial service in a recorded message. Fighting back tears, she spoke directly to the “evildoers” responsible for her husband’s death, warning them: “If you thought my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea what you have unleashed across this entire country, and this world.”
She emphasized that her husband’s voice would continue to echo, inspiring others to carry forward his legacy of activism, outreach, and political organizing.
The Symbolism of the Stage
Viewers watching the live stream noted a striking and unsettling detail at the memorial: the podium on stage was enclosed in bulletproof glass. For many, it was a stark reminder of the heightened security concerns in a country still reeling from Kirk’s assassination. Social media lit up with comments about the symbolism — that even in mourning, political figures must now speak under protection from potential threats.
One user wrote: “Interior events do not normally use bulletproof glass, but at the Charlie Kirk memorial, security is next level.” Another added: “The fact that bulletproof glass is needed at a funeral speaks volumes about where we are as a nation.”
Remembering a Complex Legacy
Charlie Kirk’s legacy remains divisive. To his supporters, he was a bold voice for conservative values, an organizer who mobilized a generation of young activists, and a cultural warrior unafraid to take on opponents. To his detractors, he was a controversial figure whose style and rhetoric sometimes fueled division.
What Van Jones’ revelation adds is a final nuance — that even in his last hours, Kirk reached out in pursuit of dialogue, seeking to bridge, however briefly, one of the deepest ideological divides in American media.
As the memorial concluded, one truth was clear: whether loved or loathed, Kirk left a mark on American politics that will not be forgotten. His assassination, his legacy, and the conversations sparked by his final message will echo long after the stadium lights dim.
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