MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
More about why Kirk's death has hit so many in the capital so hard. When JD Vance first started thinking about running for office, it was Charlie Kirk who introduced Vance to some people who would end up running his Senate campaign. A few years later, Kirk lobbied publicly and privately for Vance to become Donald Trump's running mate.
(SOUNDBITE OF PODCAST, "THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOW")
JD VANCE: We're going to go after the NGO network that foments, facilitates and engages in violence. That's not OK.
MARTIN: After Kirk was killed last week, Vance now says he's going to help carry forward his friend's political legacy.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez joins us now. So, Franco, that clip we played was from Vance hosting Charlie Kirk's podcast yesterday. What stood out to you from this two-hour show?
FRANCO ORDOÑEZ, BYLINE: Yeah, A, Vance really emphasized that the administration plans to target political violence. And what they say they're talking about is left-wing riots and attacks on law enforcement. But Vance and others on that podcast also say that they believe vitriol from the left played a role in Kirk's death. And I'll just note that the suspect is due in court on Tuesday. And right now, there is little known about the investigation and a possible motive. Here's what Vance said about his mission now.
(SOUNDBITE OF PODCAST, "THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOW")
VANCE: We're going to go after the NGO network that foments, facilitates and engages in violence. That's not OK.
MARTÍNEZ: All right, so he mentions an NGO network there. What's he referring to?
ORDOÑEZ: I mean, it's not really clear, I mean, what NGOs Vance is referring to. And I even asked President Trump about it later in the day, and he didn't get into details earlier. But a few days ago, Trump singled out the Democratic donor George Soros, who has funded progressive causes. Trump said Soros should be investigated for federal racketeering charges. Now, Soros and his Open Society Foundations have dismissed these allegations, and they've condemned Kirk's killing.
MARTÍNEZ: OK. Now, it hasn't even been a week yet since Charlie Kirk was killed. What role has JD Vance been playing since?
ORDOÑEZ: You know, this is very personal for Vance. After the shooting, the vice president and his wife, Usha Vance, traveled to Utah. And they were a real force of support for Kirk's widow. They flew with her and Kirk's casket on Air Force Two back to Kirk's home state of Arizona. And as you guys noted earlier, Vance gives so much credit to Kirk for his own political career. Vance has been talking about all the things that Kirk did for him, how he believed in him even when he was pretty much an unknown. Kirk also connected Vance with donors. He connected Vance with Donald Trump Jr., who also came to champion Vance to become his father's running mate.
MARTÍNEZ: So obviously very, very personal for JD Vance. But this is also a political moment as well, so tell us about that.
ORDOÑEZ: Yeah, I mean, it really is. I mean, this is Washington, of course, where politics underscore most things. Vance clearly has ambitions beyond the vice presidency, and there are many eyes watching him in this moment. Ryan Williams, who is a longtime Republican strategist, told me that Vance is the top official in the Trump White House who has these deep ties to the movement that Kirk was leading.
RYAN WILLIAMS: The vice president can just very naturally step in and help promote Kirk's message and also console his supporters.
ORDOÑEZ: Yeah, Vance is seen as the next generation. He's young. He's only 41 years old. And as Williams put it, Vance lives that faith-based lifestyle that Kirk promoted. Vance is considered a young and upcoming warrior of conservative values. And he's someone who Kirk's followers can relate to.
MARTÍNEZ: All right. That's NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez. Thanks a lot.
ORDOÑEZ: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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