Van Jones Discusses Last Message from Charlie Kirk Before His Death

On Thursday, CNN analyst Van Jones revealed that a day before a conservative activist was killed at Utah Valley University, Charlie Kirk had reached out to him with an invitation. In a direct message shared by Jones, Kirk expressed a desire for a civil conversation about race and crime.

The message, dated September 9, came amidst a contentious public debate. Kirk had previously made controversial statements about the murder of Ukrainian refugees, which Jones had publicly challenged. Kirk’s message conveyed a respectful approach: “Hey, Van, I mean that, I want you to take you to my show and have a respectful conversation about crime and race,” he wrote, adding that they could have opposing views without hostility.

The day before he was tragically murdered, Charlie Kirk sent me a direct message. Unfortunately, before I could respond, he was killed. Apparently, his words were fatal. I have issues with many of those words—some quite strong—but…

Jones noted that he never had the chance to reply, as Tyler Robinson fatally shot Kirk during a lecture the following day in Orem, Utah. In response to the assassination, Jones condemned the act on Twitter, calling it both horrifying and heartbreaking. He emphasized that Kirk preferred dialogue over discord and used the occasion to criticize those inclined toward violence or censorship.

Jones reflected on Kirk’s final message, suggesting that Kirk’s hope for increased conversation, rather than silence or censorship, was clear. Meanwhile, the FBI indicated that Robinson had intentions against Kirk, framing it as a situation where “hate cannot be negotiated.”