Sandmann says Charlie Kirk's FaceTime helped him through 2019 backlash as Kirk is assassinated in 2025

A 2019 video from the Lincoln Memorial steps placed Nick Sandmann at the center of a national debate over protest and media coverage. Sandmann, then 16 and a Covington Catholic High School student, was filmed standing near Nathan Phillips, a Native American activist who was part of a separate Indigenous Peoples March, during the March for Life. He wore a red MAGA hat and smiled in what he and his supporters said was an attempt to defuse a tense moment. The clip circulated widely on social media, sparking a wave of online harassment that forced the family to relocate for safety and kept the teen away from school for a time. He would later settle lawsuits with several major outlets over their reporting of the incident, though the episode remained a flashpoint in debates over media coverage of protests. A former CNN anchor drew criticism for describing him as having a punchable face.

Among the first to reach out was Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA. Kirk sought out Sandmann's contact information and called him on FaceTime for about 20 minutes, a gesture he described to the Daily Mail as offering friendship and reassurance during a period of intense scrutiny. Sandmann recalled that he and his family were living with friends for safety, and the call helped him feel that there were people who cared about him and the truth of the situation. He said Kirk urged him to continue fighting and reminded him that others believed in him and what had happened.

Now, six years later, Sandmann, who was 23, has moved to Washington and works for the Republican Party in Congress. He told the Daily Mail that Kirk was one of the first people to reach out to him during the controversy and that the call helped shape his political trajectory. He described Kirk as someone who urged him to continue engaging with public life and who emphasized that people cared about his side of the story. Sandmann also noted that he has not faced significant negative interactions in his current role and that he remains focused on his responsibilities in Congress. He has previously thanked Kirk publicly for the support, posting on X that Kirk offered him friendship and comfort in 2019.

In September 2025, Kirk was assassinated while holding an event on a university campus in Utah. A memorial service was held later that month at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, drawing thousands of mourners. A drone video showed attendees arriving for the service. President Donald Trump praised Kirk as a great American hero and a martyr for America’s freedom at the ceremony. Erika Kirk, his widow, spoke of her husband’s goal of helping young men facing difficult circumstances. Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged with killing Kirk and could face the death penalty if convicted on the most serious charges; Erika Kirk said she forgives him.

Sandmann said the episode illustrated for him the complexity of national debates over protest and media coverage, and he emphasized the importance of how public figures support young people facing online harassment. He noted that his own path—from a viral moment to a career in public service—was shaped by mentors who offered guidance during a painful period, including messages of support from Kirk that helped him stay connected to his goals.