Charlie Kirk was a significant factor in getting the conservative momentum behind JD Vance as the vice-presidential nominee on the Trump ticket for 2024.  Without Kirk exerting his influence throughout the conservative movement, JD Vance may not be the current Vice-President.

Vice President JD Vance and Charlie Kirk were strong friends and often talked.  JD Vance penned a tribute to Charlie Kirk on his X-Account.

Today, Vice President Vance has cancelled his appearance in New York City for the 911 memorial, and will instead travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to escort the body of Charlie Kirk back to Arizona.

(VIA POLITICO) – Vice President JD Vance plans to escort Charlie Kirk’s body and his wife Erika, some of their family members and close friends aboard Air Force Two to Arizona on Thursday, according to a person familiar with the arrangements.

Vance and his wife Usha traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday to pay their respects and will continue to where Kirk lived in Phoenix. The Vances had been scheduled to attend a ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City commemorating the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

[…] Kirk had been one of the first people the vice president called when he considered running for Senate in 2021, JD Vance wrote, adding that Kirk had introduced him to donors, some of the people who ran his eventual campaign, and Donald Trump Jr., who has remained a member of the vice president’s inner circle.

Kirk was also a major force behind the president’s decision to name Vance as his running mate. In his post to social media, the vice president said Kirk had “advocated for” him “both in public and private.” Once JD Vance became Trump’s running mate, he wrote, “Charlie was constantly calling and texting, checking on our family and offering guidance and prayers. (link)