Jake Paul says Charlie Kirk ‘could have been president,’ calls his loss ‘deeply sad’

WASHINGTON, DC: Boxer and social media star Jake Paul delivered an unusually emotional and unfiltered reaction to the death of Charlie Kirk, suggesting the young conservative voice was on a clear path to the presidency - a belief he says made the loss hit even harder.

Speaking on a podcast with Theo Von on Sunday, April 5, Paul didn’t just mourn Kirk; he tried to explain why he thought his trajectory was fundamentally different from most political figures.

Jake Paul says Kirk had a clear presidential path

Paul acknowledged he never met Kirk personally, but said his impact and intent were obvious to anyone paying attention.

“Charlie would have been the guy. So it's very sad, bro. He's just awesome,” Paul said.

When Von asked if they had spent time together, Paul replied, “No, no. Just followed all of his stuff.” But for him, that was enough to form a strong impression about Kirk’s direction.

“He was like aiming for it though. I think that's the problem is like, I'm just a kid from Ohio. That's a high school dropout,” Paul said, contrasting his own unconventional rise with what he saw as Kirk’s purpose-driven path.

He went on to explain that Kirk’s ambitions felt structured and intentional in a way his own career never was. 

“If it makes sense at some point, then it makes sense that was like his job and his purpose and all of that.”

Trying to make that distinction clearer, Paul compared it to boxing saying, “If someone was like, this is like me becoming a world champion in boxing, it makes more sense than Jake Paul becoming president.”

He further added, “Charlie Kirk was clearly going to be the next president.”

Von responded by noting the broader implications of that kind of rise, suggesting, “There was probably people that didn't want to see that possibly occur, they didn't want to see that get to the next level,” hinting at the speculation that often surrounds fast-rising political figures.

Jake Paul opens up on Trump’s grind and pressure

The conversation later shifted to President Donald Trump, with Paul offering a candid take on what it takes to hold power at that level.

“Sign up for the hardest job in the world where you're working 14 hours a day just cranking it,” Paul said, describing the relentless nature of the presidency.

“I've seen Trump. His energy is why he's there. Like, he's a legend in that sense,” he added, pointing to stamina and intensity as key traits behind Trump’s success.

But Paul also highlighted the personal cost that comes with that kind of role.

“It demands so much of you and will take away, not only your life, but everyone that you're affiliated with,” he said, noting that even family members are pulled into the pressure.

He admitted that while the idea of entering politics sometimes comes up jokingly, the reality is far less appealing.

“So like, I really don't want to do it but like it's become like a funny joke that I would.”

Paul also recalled a surreal moment tied to Trump’s support: “Randomly Trump endorses me fully, someone texted me and said like you'd have to pay him a billion dollars to get that endorsement and you got it for free.”

Paul and Trump have crossed paths before

Paul’s remarks also come against the backdrop of a prior interaction with Trump, highlighting a relationship that goes beyond casual commentary.

In an earlier exchange, the two had discussed everything from politics to Paul’s boxing career, with Trump even sharing details from a past attempt to kill him and offering strong words of support for the influencer-turned-boxer.

Trump had said that Paul had his “complete and total endorsement,” even though Paul isn't running for any office.