周日，数百人聚集在肯尼迪中心向查理·柯克致敬，聆听保守运动的领导人称赞柯克的组织能力以及对公共辩论和言论自由的承诺。
国家情报局局长塔尔西·加巴德说:“查理的原则是，不管另一个人的言论有多糟糕，他们的想法必须被更好的想法击败，而不是诉诸暴力。”
特朗普政府的多名成员在守夜活动上发言，包括卫生与公众服务部部长罗伯特·F·肯尼迪，他说是柯克在2024年竞选期间促成了唐纳德·特朗普总统和肯尼迪之间的伙伴关系。
这是2024年8月在亚利桑那州举行的美国集会的转折点，小RFK正式支持川普。
小RFK在谈到他和柯克的关系时说:“我想当时我们带着许多恐惧接近对方，但在播客的结尾，我们是灵魂伴侣，我们是精神上的兄弟，我们是朋友，在接下来的几年里，我们的友谊开花了。”。
其他人则感谢柯克和他的转折点组织，感谢他们之所以能保持现在的地位。
“在2022年中期选举期间，我在23岁时发起了国会竞选。这个镇上的大多数人，几乎是华盛顿这个镇上的所有人，都不把我当回事。然而，查理·柯克做到了，“白宫新闻秘书。卡罗林·莱维特说。
“查理寻找局外人，那些有新想法的积极进取的实话实说者，他们不怕挑战现状，就像他深爱的特朗普总统一样。我代表总统说，特朗普总统也非常爱你，查理，”她补充道。
“我经常开玩笑说，查理可能是我有朋友的唯一原因，我今天最亲近的许多人中的一些人，我是通过他的组织和这场运动认识的。查理不仅仅是一名评论员、节目主持人或网络名人。从任何意义上来说，他都是一个爱国者，”众议员安娜·保利娜·卢娜说。
White House officials, lawmakers hold vigil for Charlie Kirk at Kennedy Center
Hundreds of people gathered at the Kennedy Center to pay respects to Charlie Kirk on Sunday, listening to leaders of the conservative movement praise Kirk for his organizing powers and commitment to public debates and free speech.
“Charlie lived by the principle that no matter how horrible another person's speech may be, their ideas must be defeated by better ideas, not by resorting to violence,” Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said.
Multiple members from Trump’s administration spoke at the vigil, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, who said it was Kirk who brokered a partnership between President Donald Trump and Kennedy during the 2024 campaign.
It was at a Turning Point USA rally in Arizona in August of 2024, where RFK Jr. officially endorsed Trump.
“I think we approached each other with a lot of trepidation at that time, but by the end of the podcast, we were soulmates, we were spiritual brothers, and we were we were friends, and over the next couple of years, our friendship blossomed,” RFK Jr. said of his relationship with Kirk.
Others thanked Kirk and his Turning Point organization for being part of the reason why they hold the position they do.
“I launched my campaign for Congress at just 23 years old during the 2022 midterm elections. Most people in this town, pretty much all of the people in this town of Washington, did not take me seriously. Charlie Kirk, however, did,” White House press secretary. Karoline Leavitt said.
“Charlie looked for the outsiders, the up-and-coming, truth tellers with new ideas, who weren't afraid to challenge the status quo, just like President Trump, whom he loved so much. And I speak on behalf of the president when I say President Trump loved you, Charlie, so much too," she added.
“I often joke that Charlie is probably the only reason why I have friends, some of the many people that I'm closest to today, I met through his organization and this movement. Charlie was more than a commentator or a show host or an online personality. He was a patriot in every sense of the word,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said.
