CNN star reveals message Charlie Kirk sent him before assassination
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CNN’s Van Jones has shared the last message conservative activist Charlie Kirk sent him just before Kirk was tragically killed. Jones, aged 57, provided this poignant insight during a segment on Anderson Cooper 360° on Friday. Prior to Kirk’s fatal shooting in Orem, Utah, on September 10, the two had been significant opponents.

The pair had been sparring about the killing of Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska and its larger connotations when Kirk suddenly reached out via X, Jones told Cooper. The September 9 message read: '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.

They had recently debated the murder of Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska and its broader implications. It was then that Kirk reached out through a social media message, as Jones explained to Cooper. Sent on September 9, the message invited Jones for a respectful dialogue on crime and race, ensuring it would remain courteous. After Cooper read this aloud, Jones, also 57, shared his reaction and reflections.
'Look, I mean, we were beefing. And then, after he died, [after] he was murdered, my team called and said, "Van, he was trying to reach you, man?,' the former Obama aid began. '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? '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. A nd I've sat on it long enough.'

“We were in conflict,” Jones admitted. “After his death, my team approached me: ‘Van, he attempted to reach out to you?’ What was Kirk doing? Creating dialogue. He suggested we maintain gentlemanly disagreements. Now, nationwide discussions are about civil war, censorship, and justifying murder about this individual? This man who sought respectful conversations with his opposition, only to be killed the following day. I’ve kept this to myself for too long.”

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.'

Jones recounted his immediate decision to attend Kirk’s funeral in Arizona on Sunday to honor him. He stated to Cooper, “We differed. Clearly, we weren’t companions. However, when it’s time to honor someone’s memory, you commend the positive aspects.” Jones went on to acknowledge Kirk’s legacy, noting, “He opposed censorship, civil war, and violence. He advocated for open debate and dialogue, even with adversaries like 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.

Cooper then questioned Jones if he ever considered accepting Kirk’s invitation. Jones replied, “No.” He clarified, “I wasn’t aiming to expand his platform, but I would have reached out, and we would have initiated the conversation to work through these issues.” Ultimately, Jones suggested, political discord and the inability to express differing views led to Kirk’s demise.
'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.

“What happens is people get too agitated, Anderson, by watching our debates, feeling the urge to go to extremes. They think murder, civil war, censorship, or silencing others is the answer. Regarding Charlie Kirk? ‘Mr. Debate?’ I disagreed with him on nearly everything, but our battles were verbal, not physical, folks.”

'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.

‘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.

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.
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