Liberal CNN analyst Van Jones revealed Saturday that he received a message from conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 9, 2025, that left him stunned just one day before Kirk was assassinated during a college speaking event in Utah. The message showed Kirk reaching out for civil dialogue despite their heated public disagreement.
Kirk’s message to Jones read: “Hey Van, I mean it, I’d love to have you on my show to have a respectful conversation about crime and race.” The Turning Point USA founder added that he would be a gentleman and expressed his belief that they could disagree about issues agreeably.
Jones shared the direct message on his Instagram and described his reaction as shocked, particularly given their recent public dispute. The two commentators had been engaged in what Jones described as intense disagreement during the final week of Kirk’s life over issues of race and crime, specifically regarding the killing of a Ukrainian refugee.
The CNN analyst emphasized that he and Kirk were not friends and acknowledged the intensity of their public feud. Kirk had claimed that the Ukrainian refugee’s murder demonstrated anti-white hatred, while Jones denounced this characterization as unfounded during his television appearances. Their exchange had escalated to include social media disputes and resulted in racist death threats directed at Jones.
Jones initially hesitated about sharing Kirk’s final message but ultimately decided it was important for the public to see. He explained that watching discussions about civil wars and censorship following Kirk’s death prompted him to reveal the communication. Jones wanted to demonstrate that Kirk, in his final hours, was seeking dialogue rather than division or censorship.
The assassination occurred on September 10, 2025, when Tyler Robinson shot and killed Kirk during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Jones never had the opportunity to respond to Kirk’s invitation before the shooting took place. The FBI reported that Robinson had texted about having the opportunity to target Kirk and expressed that some hatred cannot be negotiated with.
Following the assassination, Jones immediately condemned the attack on social media, describing it as absolutely horrifying and heartbreaking. He noted that Kirk fought with words rather than weapons and called for swift justice for those responsible. Jones also expressed prayers for Kirk’s family, the traumatized students at Utah Valley University, and all those affected by the violence.
In his Instagram post about the message, Jones wrote extensively about the implications of Kirk’s final communication. He argued that Kirk’s murder should compel people to seek dialogue rather than violence or censorship. Jones emphasized that there is a rising tide of political violence affecting individuals from both political sides and urged Americans to choose conversation over conflict.
Jones criticized those using Kirk’s assassination to justify additional violence or call for civil war, stating that such responses contradicted Kirk’s actual approach to disagreement. He pointed out that when their public dispute intensified, Kirk’s response was to push for more conversation and civility rather than silencing or censorship. Jones described this as proof that Kirk wanted to pursue a very different path.
The CNN analyst also addressed misconceptions about relationships between political commentators, explaining that while they may debate intensely and work to win elections, they generally do not wish harm on each other or desire more violence in the country. Jones made appeals to both conservatives and liberals to maintain open debate and dialogue, referencing Kirk’s words about disagreeing on issues agreeably.
Kirk’s funeral was held on September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona, with President Donald Trump among the speakers delivering remarks. The 31-year-old conservative activist’s death sparked widespread discussion about political violence and the state of discourse in American politics. Social media platforms saw both outrage over the assassination and disturbing celebrations of Kirk’s death from some users.
Jones concluded his public statements by urging Americans to make a choice between violence and dialogue. He argued that while the country could choose to pursue more violence, outrage, and censorship, such a path could not be attributed to Kirk based on his final actions. Jones presented Kirk’s last message as evidence of the activist’s desire for respectful disagreement and civil discourse, even with his political adversaries.
