In the immediate aftermath of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination Wednesday afternoon, House Speaker Mike Johnson led a moment of silence on the floor. When Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., asked if someone would offer a spoken prayer, several Democrats objected, shouting “no” and jeering at Republican members.
By Monday evening, however, lawmakers gathered in a more solemn display. House Republican leaders held a vigil in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall to honor Kirk, 31, with prayers and personal tributes.
The ceremony, led by Johnson and GOP leadership, drew dozens of Republicans as well as a small group of Democrats, including Reps. Tom Suozzi of New York, Debbie Dingell of Michigan, and John Larson of Connecticut, the Daily Signal reported.
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Mike Johnson: 'The Best Way to Honor the Memory of Charlie Kirk is to Live Like He Did'
At a ceremonial vigil inside the U.S. Capitol, @SpeakerJohnson paid respects to Charlie Kirk, inviting the audience to follow his principles and be a "happy warrior.”
?"Even though he could… pic.twitter.com/WveKRpLK1r
— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) September 15, 2025
“What we do know about Charlie is that he would not want us to be overcome by despair,” Johnson said to open the memorial. “He would want us to carry the message forward, to honor his memory, and to expand the legacy that he left behind.”
“I think the best way to honor the memory of Charlie Kirk is to live as he lived,” the Speaker continued. “What I loved about Charlie the most is, even though he could win any debate, he never held it against anyone on the other side of the table.
“To the contrary, he was the very first person to reach out a hand of friendship or to put his arm around the shoulder of someone who was on the complete opposite side of the political spectrum, philosophy, or ideology,” said Johnson.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., previously survived political violence himself, having been shot during a practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game eight years ago. At the vigil, he said political violence “can never be accepted as the norm in this great country. It goes against everything that our country was founded upon.”
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Charlie Kirk Fought For Students' Ability to Debate Their Ideas, Steve Scalise Says
At a ceremonial vigil in the U.S. Capitol, @SteveScalise spoke about Charlie Kirk's purpose and how Turning Point USA will continue growing after his death.
"?He didn't just start an… pic.twitter.com/Bqq6PBhIfD
— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) September 15, 2025
