Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump, gave a rare television interview to honor Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA who was assassinated earlier this week.
Appearing on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Trump described Kirk’s death as deeply personal, citing her nearly decade-long friendship with him.
“It’s unconscionable what transpired and very personal,” she told host Joe Kernen. “I’ve known Charlie for approaching a decade now, and he was a good man, highly principled. And he was a champion for debate, dialogue, and free speech — the cornerstone of democracy. And he was silenced for being so persuasive, ultimately.”
Trump emphasized Kirk’s approach to politics as one that encouraged robust discussion rather than shutting down opponents.
“He represents the kind of politics we should aspire to, where you’re not afraid of people who disagree with you. In fact, you welcome them into conversation and debate,” she said. She noted that Kirk never shied away from dissent, arguing instead that the strength of his ideas made him a formidable voice. “His tongue, his brain, that was his sword,” she added.
Kirk’s assassination, which unfolded before a crowd of thousands on campus, has shocked the conservative movement and reignited debates about political violence in America. Co-host Rebecca Quick observed that political assassinations in the United States are at their highest level since the 1960s. Trump, visibly emotional, urged that Kirk’s death should serve as a wake-up call.
“There’s almost a normalization of this type of act of extreme violence,” she said. “I pray that maybe in this moment it’s an inflection point for us as a country and a society, and it stirs the type of conversation Charlie would have initiated on a topic like this.”
Speaking of Kirk’s family, Trump grew tearful. “He loved her so much, and those beautiful children,” she said of Erika Kirk, his widow. “It’s heartbreaking.”
The tribute marked one of the few times Trump has appeared publicly in recent years to comment on political events, underscoring the gravity of Kirk’s death for those in his orbit.
Kernen asked whether she believed America’s political divisions could cool in the age of social media, where violent rhetoric and threats are widespread. Trump acknowledged the challenge but stressed the importance of engagement over isolation.
“Once we stop talking to one another, it all breaks down,” she said. “Once we’re afraid of someone’s ability to speak … it all collapses.”
Trump has largely withdrawn from active politics since her father’s first term ended in January 2021. During that period, she served as an unpaid adviser in the White House, focusing on issues including workforce development and family policy. In November 2022, as her father launched his second presidential campaign, she announced she would not re-enter political life.
“I love my father very much,” she told Fox News at the time. “This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics.”
In later interviews, including a January 2025 podcast appearance, she reiterated that stance.
“I love policy and impact. I hate politics. And unfortunately, the two are not separable,” she said then. “To some degree, I’m at the center of the storm because my father is about to be president. But it’s a very dark, negative business.”
Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA in 2012 when he was just 18, grew into one of the most prominent conservative activists of his generation. His organization became a leading platform for young conservatives on college campuses nationwide and served as an incubator for pro-Trump political energy during and after the 2016 election.
For Ivanka Trump, the tragedy marked not only the loss of a political ally but a personal friend. Her tribute served as both a eulogy and a call for reflection.
“Charlie was one of the best,” she said. “And we cannot let his voice be lost to silence.”
