Vice President JD Vance used a keynote convention address Thursday night to pay tribute to Charlie Kirk on the first anniversary of his assassination, while framing the November midterm elections as a fight over what he called Americans’ “birthright.”
Vance spoke before President Trump closed out the two-day convention, an event organized to energize voters ahead of a pivotal election. In his remarks, Vance connected the birth of his fourth child, a son named Alec born in July, to a broader message touching on family, jobs, education, public safety, religious liberty and homeownership.
Vance also directed some of his most pointed criticism yet at Democrats during the speech.
Marking the anniversary of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk’s death, Vance reflected on his friendship with Kirk. “I was elected Vice President of the United States one year ago today, on September the 10th of last year, that good friend was taken from us when Charlie was assassinated. Now, Charlie left behind two children, two little kids. They were too young to fully understand,” Vance said.
Vance recalled that Kirk had often told young men that few things in life matter more than falling in love, starting a family and becoming a father. Vance said those words carry new meaning for him since he and second lady Usha Vance welcomed their son.
Building on Kirk’s legacy, Vance pivoted to a broader argument about what he described as the birthright of every American.
“I believe the Founders built this nation on a promise that echoes our Creator: That every American child is born an heir, born with a birthright,” Vance said. “Born with the right to inherit the blessings of this country. Not because of who their parents are. Not because of what they look like or where they come from. But because they are Americans.”
The speech capped a two-day convention aimed at rallying support for Republicans ahead of the midterms.
