Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a sharp response Monday to renewed calls for political “unity” following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, as reported [1] by The Western Journal.
Speaking on Kirk’s own podcast, where he filled in as host, Vance said unity cannot exist with those who celebrated Kirk’s death or defended the act.
“There is no unity with people who scream at children over their parents’ politics,” Vance said.
“There is no unity with someone who lies about what Charlie Kirk said in order to excuse his murder. There is no unity with someone who harasses an innocent family the day after the father of that family lost a dear friend. There is no unity with the people who celebrate Charlie Kirk’s assassination.”
Kirk, 31, was killed last Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University. Authorities have described the shooting as politically motivated, and the case has sparked nationwide outrage.
Vance singled out the left-wing publication The Nation for publishing an article titled “Charlie Kirk’s Legacy Deserves No Mourning” by Elizabeth Spiers.
The piece criticized Kirk and suggested his death did not merit sympathy. Vance argued that such rhetoric, and the foundations that fund outlets like The Nation, fuel political violence.
“There is no unity with the people who fund these articles, who pay the salaries of these terrorist sympathizers, who argue that Charlie Kirk, a loving husband and father, deserved a shot to the neck because he spoke words with which they disagree,” Vance said.
He then pointed to the Open Society Foundations and the Ford Foundation, noting they receive favorable tax treatment while supporting publications that printed the article.
Vance added, “The Nation is literally subsidized by you and me, the American taxpayer, and how do they reward us? By setting fire to the house built by the American family over 250 years.”
He stressed that unity is possible only if there is agreement that political violence is unacceptable. “I am desperate for our country to be united in condemnation of the actions and the ideas that killed my friend,” Vance said.
“We can only have it with people who acknowledge that political violence is unacceptable and when we work to dismantle the institutions that promote violence and terrorism in our own country.”
🚨 JD VANCE just WENT OFF on people who are calling for “UNITY” with radical leftists
“There is NO UNITY with people who scream at children over their parents’ politics.
There is NO UNITY with someone who LIES about what Charlie Kirk said in order to excuse his murder.
There… pic.twitter.com/iDq3cKJQcO [2]
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 15, 2025 [3]
The comments quickly went viral on social media, with conservatives amplifying Vance’s call to reject what they see as hollow demands for unity from Democrats.
The remarks also came as Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut drew criticism for his past rhetoric describing politics as “a war” and urging people to “do whatever is necessary.”
You need to know what might be coming.
Trump could have brought the nation together to confront political violence after the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Instead he appears to be preparing to use the shooting as a pretext to destroy his political opposition and consolidate power. pic.twitter.com/Wvhmrr35wM [4]
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) September 16, 2025 [5]
He accused Trump of failing to unite the country. Yet, in an interview recorded just days before Kirk’s killing—and posted on his account only hours earlier—he made these remarks:
Senator Chris Murphy, yesterday:
“We’re in a war right now to save this country. And so you have to be willing to do whatever is necessary in order to save the country.” pic.twitter.com/bdj1rlsDT5 [6]
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) September 10, 2025 [7]
The White House has called for Americans to lower political tensions in the wake of Kirk’s killing.
Vance’s message, however, underscored his view that conservatives should not mistake calls for unity as genuine when they come from those who, in his words, defended or excused Kirk’s murder.