Van Jones reveals Charlie Kirk message sent day before Kirk’s killing, calling for respectful dialogue
CNN analyst says Kirk invited a civil exchange on crime and race just before he was killed in Utah; the note contrasts with a week of public disputes.
Van Jones said he received a message from Charlie Kirk the day before Kirk was killed at a Utah college-tour event, a note he described as striking given their public feud. In that message, Kirk invited Jones to his show for a respectful conversation about crime and race, Jones said, a gesture that stood out amid a period of tense exchanges between them.
'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 in a message Jones later shared on Instagram. The offer continued with a pledge of civility: 'We can disagree about the issues agreeably.' Jones recalled that Kirk added, 'I would be a gentleman as I know you would be as well.' Jones said they were not friends and that there had been a period of public beef in the last week of Kirk's life.
Kirk, 31, founder of Turning Point USA, was killed during a college-tour appearance in Utah, a development that has drawn scrutiny of political rhetoric and its real-world consequences.
The New York Post reported the exchange, which circulated on social media and prompted questions about how political figures reach out to one another in an era of deep partisan divides. Jones said the note’s tone—an invitation to remain civil—stood in contrast with the months of heated debate that had characterized their interaction.
Jones, who described their relationship as far from friendly, said he chose to publish the exchange to illustrate that even amid strong disagreements, some actors attempted to anchor dialogue in civility. He emphasized that sharing the message does not imply endorsement of Kirk’s positions; rather, it underscores how a call for respectful discourse sits alongside the polarized discourse that often dominates political life.
In Utah, investigators have continued to assess the circumstances surrounding the shooting at the college-tour event. The incident has renewed debates about political rhetoric, safety on public campuses, and the responsibilities of public figures when engaging with adversaries online and in person. Analysts said the dialogue captured in this note reflects a broader, ongoing conversation about how to handle contentious topics without escalating tensions.
The second image provides a broader look at the public profile associated with Kirk and his organization, illustrating the platform from which he spoke and the environment in which these messages circulated. 
A third image captures related moments in the broader political discourse surrounding Turning Point USA and its supporters, offering a snapshot of the networks involved in these exchanges. 