Vice President J.D. Vance honored Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s legacy by saying on Wednesday that he would not be vice president without his activism.

Vance traveled to Howell, Michigan, to visit a precision metal stamping facility and “deliver remarks” on President Donald Trump’s tax cuts for working families and businesses.

The vice president credited Kirk and Turning Point USA for “creating a movement” that made it possible for President Donald Trump and Vance to win the 2024 election.

“We love these kids and we love the organization that was founded by Charlie Kirk. And I know I speak for all of the kids behind me, all of the great TPUSA members and also the alums that over the past ten years, Turning Point USA has not just been an organization, it has been the fountain of a movement all across the United States of America,” Vance said.

“If you look at just the youth vote in 2024 and how much young voters shifted from Democrat to Republican from 2020 to 2024, Charlie Kirk created a movement and that movement made Donald J. Trump the President of the United States and it made me the Vice President of the United States. I would not be here without Charlie.”

While former Vice President Kamala Harris won the youth vote, every age group showed a notable shift toward Trump in the 2024 election in comparison to 2020.

Among those ages 18 to 29, 56% of men and 40% of women voted for Trump, a jump from the 41% and 33% who supported the president in 2020, according to Tufts Now.

Vance organized for Kirk’s casket to be flown from Utah to Arizona on Air Force Two and guest hosted “The Charlie Kirk Show” on Monday.

During the episode, Vance eviscerated the idea that political violence is a “both sides” issue and called for American conservatives to fight for their cause and against those who want to silence them.

Vance’s tribute reveals the enormous behind-the-scenes influence Kirk wielded in reshaping American politics.

The vice president’s admission that he owes his position to Kirk’s activism demonstrates the conservative leader’s strategic importance.

Kirk’s Turning Point USA transformed how Republicans engage with young voters across the country.

The organization didn’t just register students to vote – it fundamentally changed how an entire generation views conservative principles.

Vance’s acknowledgment shows that Kirk’s impact extended far beyond college campuses into the highest levels of government.

The dramatic shift in youth voting patterns from 2020 to 2024 validates Kirk’s grassroots strategy.

Conservative men aged 18-29 increased their Trump support by 15 percentage points, while young women increased by 7 points.

These gains among traditionally Democratic demographics proved crucial in swing states.

Kirk’s decade-long investment in youth outreach created the foundation for Republican electoral success.

His assassination removes a key architect of the conservative movement at its moment of greatest influence.

The vice president’s emotional tribute underscores how personally connected Kirk was to Republican leadership.

Vance’s decision to fly Kirk’s casket on Air Force Two demonstrates the respect he commanded within the administration.

His willingness to guest host Kirk’s radio show shows the deep friendship between the two men.

Kirk’s murder represents not just the loss of a commentator, but the assassination of a political kingmaker.

The conservative movement must now operate without one of its most effective organizers and strategists.

Vance’s comments reveal that Kirk’s influence on Republican politics was far greater than most Americans realized.

His work didn’t just support Trump’s campaign – it made Trump’s victory possible by mobilizing previously unreachable voters.

The transformation of young voter preferences represents Kirk’s lasting legacy to the conservative cause.

His assassination targeted not just one man, but the entire infrastructure he built to advance conservative principles.

The Republican Party now faces the challenge of continuing Kirk’s mission without his leadership and vision.

Vance’s tribute ensures that Kirk’s contributions to American conservatism will be remembered and honored.

The movement Kirk created will serve as his monument, continuing to shape elections long after his tragic death.