Karoline Leavitt and RFK Jr honor Charlie Kirk as a ‘beaming light’ at emotional Kennedy Center vigil

WASHINGTON, DC: Many top Republicans joined grassroots activists on Sunday, September 14, to give a heartfelt tribute to Charlie Kirk during an emotional vigil at a packed Kennedy Center.

More than 85 members of Congress, several White House and cabinet officials, activists from across the country, students, and DC locals joined in prayer and celebration of the conservative icon and his legacy.

Karoline Leavitt says everyone needs to 'take up Charlie’s torch'

During the vigil, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Charlie Kirk a "beaming light" who will inspire her whenever she steps to the podium.

"Simply put, Charlie was a beaming light in a world consumed by darkness. It’s going to take all of us in this room and all of us across the country to take up Charlie’s torch, because that is exactly what he would want us to do," Leavitt said.

She added, "We have to lean on our faith, dig in, and fight harder than ever for the beliefs and convictions that Charlie made his life’s work. That is how we will honor his family and honor his legacy."

Several high-profile Republicans also spoke at Kirk’s vigil.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) reflected on the shooting and said, "It’s as if a dark shadow was cast over our country and certainly here, even on Capitol Hill, the leaders of the nation have been shaken."

He added, "In spite of that, we remember that our dear friend Charlie would never want us to be overcome by despair; he would want exactly the opposite," commending him for training a generation of "happy warriors".

"I think Charlie Kirk offered more productive content in the free marketplace of ideas than anyone in his generation and arguably in the last 100 years of US history. That message and that truth will go more boldly now than it did while he was here," Johnson added.

RFK Jr describes Charlie Kirk as 'architect' of his unification with Trump

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr called Charlie Kirk the "architect" of his unification with President Donald Trump in 2024.

RFK Jr mentioned that his niece was bringing a Bible to Europe for college because she wanted "to be like Charlie Kirk".

"I had a conversation once with Charlie. We were talking about the danger that we were both challenging entrenched interests, and he asked if I was scared of dying. And I said, 'There’s a lot worse things than dying,'" he said.

RFK Jr added that after Kirk’s death, "it’s our job to win this battle for our country."

Meanwhile, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recalled, "I had a friend who sent me a text the day after Charlie was killed, really distraught, and she said, ‘What do we do now? I know the answer should be love, the answer should be peace, but Charlie tried that, and it didn’t work.'"

She added, "My response to her was, 'No, it did work. That’s why they killed him.'"

Similarly, Rep Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla) spoke about receiving a call from Kirk that changed her trajectory.

"I was literally preparing to go to medical school, bags packed, and I kid you not, 24 hours prior, I got a call that changed my life. Hey, Anna, it’s Charlie Kirk from Turning Point USA, and I’d like to offer you a job as our National Hispanic Outreach Director," Luna recalled.

She added, "Charlie Kirk will go down in history as one of the biggest political minds and activists of our lifetime. His impact places him alongside transformative figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, John F Kennedy, and Robert F Kennedy."