JD Vance, Kirk’s casket, family leave Utah after Charlie Kirk assassination at UVU

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Vice President JD Vance left Utah onboard Air Force Two with Kirk’s casket after arriving at the Roland R Wright Air National Guard Base Thursday afternoon.

According to NewsNation, the Vice President and Second Lady met with Charlie Kirk’s family and a number of his close friends. Kirk’s casket, along with his family and friends, then flew to Phoenix, Arizona. The video below shows Air Force Two and Kirk’s casket arriving at Sky Harbor Airport.

His body was transported to Arizona on Air Force Two alongside Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, and Erika Kirk. It arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport around 5p.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

The events follow the assassination of Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA and conservative influencer, who was shot and killed at an event at Utah Valley University.

ABC4 had a crew on the ground outside the US Air National Guard Base where the vice president landed Thursday afternoon. Law enforcement officials poured onto the base in preparation for his arrival.

On a post on social media, the vice president spoke about the special relationship he shared with Kirk.

“I was in a meeting in the West Wing when those group chats started lighting up with people telling Charlie they were praying for him. And that’s how I learned the news that my friend had been shot,” Vance said.

On Thursday morning, an FBI Special Agent and a DPS Commissioner said they have recovered a weapon that was allegedly used in the shooting and found camera footage that follows the individual’s path onto a nearby roof where he is believed to have fire the single shot, killing Kirk.

On a post on social media, Vance said he has known Kirk since 2017 and he was one of the first people he called about running for the Senate in 2021. “I was interested but skeptical there was a pathway. We talked through everything, from the strategy to the fundraising to the grassroots of the movement he knew so well. He introduced me to some of the people who would run my campaign and also to Donald Trump Jr,” Vance said.

“When I became the VP nominee–something Charlie advocated for both in public and private–Charlie was there for me. I was so glad to be part of the president’s team, but candidly surprised by the effect it had on our family. Our kids, especially our oldest, struggled with the attention and the constant presence of the protective detail,” Vance continued.

The vice president went on to add that Kirk was a doer and loved Jesus Christ.

“Someone else pointed out that Charlie died doing what he loved: discussing ideas. He would go into these hostile crowds and answer their questions,” Vance said.

Kirk was appearing for the American Comeback Tour hosted by the Turning Point USA chapter at UVU. The event was being held at 12 p.m. in the UVU Courtyard.

“Charlie Kirk was a true friend. The kind of guy you could say something to and know it would always stay with him,” Vance continued. “And now that Charlie is in heaven, I’ll ask him to talk to big man directly on behalf of his family, his friends, and the country he loved so dearly.”

Bayan Wang contributed to this reporting.