In a marked departure from established tradition, Vice President JD Vance has forgone the annual September 11th memorial ceremony in New York City to travel to Utah and offer condolences to the family of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed the day before. Vance, who was scheduled to attend the commemoration at Ground Zero, will now be accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance on the trip to Salt Lake City, according to a source familiar with the vice president’s plans.
According to The Washington Post, the relationship between the two men began in 2017 when Kirk, after watching Vance on a Fox News show, sent him a direct message on social media. This initial contact blossomed into a friendship that lasted until Kirk’s death on Wednesday. Vance has publicly spoken about their bond, recalling how Kirk “was constantly calling and texting, checking on our family and offering guidance and prayers” after Vance was chosen as the vice-presidential nominee.
