In the days since Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University, tributes have poured in from allies and rivals alike. But one of the most striking came from CNN’s Van Jones, who revealed that just 24 hours before his death, Kirk had privately invited him to have a “respectful conversation” on his show.
Jones explained that he and Kirk had been sparring on TV and online over a racially charged murder case. Their heated back-and-forth sparked a flood of online threats against Jones. But instead of doubling down, Kirk extended an olive branch.
“Hey, Van, I mean it, I’d love to have you on my show to have a respectful conversation about crime and race,” Kirk wrote. “I would be a gentleman as I know you would be as well. We can disagree about the issues agreeably.”
Jones never got the chance to respond. The next day, Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at a debate at Utah Valley University, collapsing as students fled the courtyard.
“Condemning Murder Is Not Hard”
In a column, Jones said it was easy to condemn Kirk’s killing “immediately, without qualification and in unconditional terms.”
That afternoon, Jones tweeted that the attack was “absolutely horrifying and heartbreaking,” adding that Kirk “fought with words not weapons” and offering prayers for his loved ones and the traumatized students at UVU. In his column, he went further, writing: “Political murder is wrong, period… His assassination robs conservatives of a rising talent, progressives of a worthy opponent, and a family of a loving father.”
Jones urged Americans on both the Left and Right to reject violence and instead embrace the civility Kirk himself showed in their final exchange. “Whatever you think of Kirk’s legacy, that simple fact is commendable,” he said.
A Chilling Arrest
Meanwhile, details continue to emerge about the capture of accused gunman Tyler Robinson, 22. According to Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby, Robinson was convinced to surrender by a retired detective who was a family friend through a religious association. The friend, along with Robinson’s parents, drove him to the sheriff’s office for a peaceful arrest.
Brooksby recalled the tense moment he got the call. “His voice was kind of shaky… then he told me, ‘I know who the Charlie Kirk shooter is.’”
Investigators later revealed that some of his unused bullet casings were etched with taunts such as ‘Hey fascist! Catch!’ and ‘If you read this, you are gay lmao.’ Prosecutors have announced they will seek the death penalty.
A Call for Dialogue
For Jones, the real tragedy is that Kirk’s final gesture was one of dialogue. it was an invitation to debate, not destroy.
“When our public dispute started going sideways, what was Kirk’s response? He pushed for more conversation, not more silencing,” Jones said. “He wanted us to ‘disagree about the issues agreeably.’ That’s the proof of who he was in his last 24 hours.”
As Americans weigh how to respond to the assassination, Jones cautioned against letting the moment spiral into more hatred and violence. “If we choose censorship and civil war, we cannot blame that choice on Charlie Kirk. His last message shows he wanted to go a very different way.”
