CNN star reveals message Charlie Kirk sent him before assassination
Share and Follow

CNN’s Van Jones has detailed the final message slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk sent him the day before he was assassinated.

Jones, 57, offered the unexpected insight during a segment on Anderson Cooper 360° Friday. 

The pundit had been one of Kirk’s biggest adversaries before he was brutally gunned down in Orem, Utah, on September 10. 

The two individuals had been engaged in a heated discussion regarding the death of Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska and its broader implications when Kirk unexpectedly reached out to Jones via X, as Jones shared with Cooper.

The message from September 9 stated: ‘Hey Van, I mean it, I’d love to have you on my show to have a respectful conversation about crime and race. I would be a gentleman as I know you would be as well. We can disagree about the issues agreeably.’

After Cooper read it aloud, Jones, 57, revealed how he responded – and his state of mind since.

‘Look, I mean, we were having a disagreement. And then, after he passed away, after he was murdered, my team informed me, “Van, he was trying to reach you, man,?” the former Obama aide recounted.

‘And what was he doing? Dialogue. Let’s be gentlemen together. He says let’s disagree agreeably. So I’m sitting on this, and I’m watching the whole country talk about civil war, censorship, justifying murder, about this guy?

CNN star Van Jones, 57, made the revelation during a poignant segment on Anderson Cooper 360° Friday that Charlie Kirk had invited him to sit down with him

CNN star Van Jones, 57, made the revelation during a poignant segment on Anderson Cooper 360° Friday that Charlie Kirk had invited him to sit down with him

The pundit had been one of Kirk's biggest adversaries before he was brutally gunned down at a college event in Orem, Utah, on September 10

The pundit had been one of Kirk’s biggest adversaries before he was brutally gunned down at a college event in Orem, Utah, on September 10

‘This guy who is reaching out to his mortal enemy saying, “We need to be gentlemen, sit down together, and disagree agreeably”. And the next day, he’s killed. And I’ve sat on it long enough.’

Jones then recalled immediately coming to the conclusion that he would have to attend Kirk’s funeral procession in Arizona Sunday, to pay his respects.

He told Cooper, ‘We disagree. Everybody knows we were not friends, OK? At all.

‘But you praise the good when it’s time to memorialize somebody.’

Jones went on to list several of Kirk’s accomplishments, saying: ‘He was not for censorship. He was not for civil war. He was not for violence. He was for dialogue, open debate and dialogue – even with me.’

When Cooper asked Jones whether he had considered Kirk’s invitation, the pundit said ‘no.’

He clarified: ‘I wasn’t trying to build his platform, but I would have called and we would have talked and we would have started the process of trying to figure this stuff out.’

The CNN star, in the end, said political unrest – and a failure to speak out differences – was responsible for Kirk’s death. 

Jones said he decided to share Kirk's message so it 'might help somebody, on both sides, deal with issues more like he did'. He also penned a similar account on Substack. He's seen here speaking about the message with costar Anderson Cooper on A360°

Jones said he decided to share Kirk’s message so it ‘might help somebody, on both sides, deal with issues more like he did’. He also penned a similar account on Substack. He’s seen here speaking about the message with costar Anderson Cooper on A360°

‘I think what happens is people get so worked up, Anderson, seeing us go at it, they think they’re supposed go ahead and kill somebody, or go out and talk about civil war. 

‘Go out and silence people or cancel people or fire people or censor people – about Charlie Kirk? “Mr. Debate?”

‘I did not agree with him on literally almost anything, but we were words, not weapons, guys.     

‘And we were getting into a position where we could get some real debate going.’   

He concluded: ‘That wasn’t worked out, but I would have taken them up. I want to beat Charlie Kirk in a debate.’

Jones also penned a similar tribute on Substack.

Jones said he decided to share Kirk’s message so it, ‘might help somebody, on both sides, deal with issues more like he did.’

A memorial service is being held for Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Russell M. Nelson, oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies

Russell M. Nelson, Longest-Serving President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Passes Away

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of…
Earn $300 in bonus value with winning $5 bet for Bucs vs. Eagles

Win a $300 Bonus with a $5 Bet on the Bucs vs. Eagles Game

Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission…
Suspect in ABC TV station shooting claims he is 'not a violent man'

Shooting Suspect at ABC TV Station Insists He Is ‘Not Violent’

The individual charged with shooting three bullets into an ABC TV station…
Trump says he'll send troops to Portland, Oregon, in latest deployment to US cities

Trump Announces Plan to Deploy Troops to Portland, Oregon in Newest Move towards U.S. City Interventions

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Saturday he will send troops to…
Federal jury indicts three women over ICE doxing in California

Federal Jury Charges Three Women for Doxing ICE Agents in California

A federal grand jury indicted three women over allegedly illegally doxing an…
TPUSA leader calls for UNC professor’s firing over alleged leftist gun group ties after flyers hit Georgetown

TPUSA leader calls for UNC professor’s firing over alleged leftist gun group ties after flyers hit Georgetown

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Turning Point USA spokesperson…
Woke NHS supports first-cousin marriages despite risk of birth defects

NHS Stance on First-Cousin Marriages Raises Concerns Over Potential Health Risks

The NHS has been accused of bowing to political correctness by promoting…
Ryder Cup descends into chaos as Justin Rose, Bryson DeChambeau, caddie combust

Ryder Cup Erupts in Turmoil with Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau’s Caddie Clash

Tensions were already on a razor’s edge in Saturday afternoon’s Ryder Cup…