Gaby Marks

Gov. Relations Comms @BentleySystems | Former @SenJohnBarrasso, @WhiteHouse45 & @HouseForeignGOP Press | @AmericanU
Views are my own

[Allie Beth Stuckey @conservmillen]

You are not the victim here. You used your baby for content and profit until you realized he wouldn’t be your preferred “outcome.” You exploited him, then you had him killed, then you used his murder to make more content. It’s grotesque and quite heartbreaking.

[Margo Martin @MargoMartin47]

“I forgive him.” @MrsErikaKirk

[JD Vance @JDVance]

A while ago, probably in 2017, I appeared on Tucker Carlson's Fox show to talk about God knows what. Afterwards a name I barely knew sent me a DM on twitter and told me I did a great job. It was Charlie Kirk, and that moment of kindness began a friendship that lasted until today.

Charlie was fascinated by ideas and always willing to learn and change his mind. Like me, he was skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016. Like me, he came to see President Trump as the only figure capable of moving American politics away from the globalism that had dominated for our entire lives. When others were right, he learned from them. When he was right--as he usually was--he was generous. With Charlie, the attitude was never, "I told you so." But: "welcome."

Charlie was one of the first people I called when I thought about running for senate in early 2021. I was interested but skeptical there was a pathway. We talked through everything, from the strategy to the fundraising to the grassroots of the movement he knew so well. He introduced me to some of the people who would run my campaign and also to Donald Trump Jr. "Like his dad, he's misunderstood. He's extremely smart, and very much on our wavelength." Don took a call from me because Charlie asked him too.

Long before I ever committed (even in my mind) to running, Charlie had me speak to his donors at a TPUSA event. He walked me around the room and introduced me. He gave me honest feedback on my remarks. He had no reason to do this, no expectation that I'd go anywhere. I was polling, at that point, well below 5 percent. He did it because we were friends, and because he was a good man.

When I became the VP nominee--something Charlie advocated for both in public and private--Charlie was there for me. I was so glad to be part of the president's team, but candidly surprised by the effect it had on our family. Our kids, especially our oldest, struggled with the attention and the constant presence of the protective detail. I felt this acute sense of guilt, that I had conscripted my kids into this life without getting their permission. And Charlie was constantly calling and texting, checking on our family and offering guidance and prayers. Some of our most successful events were organized not by the campaign, but by TPUSA. He wasn't just a thinker, he was a doer, turning big ideas into bigger events with thousands of activists. And after every event, he would give me a big hug, tell me he was praying for me, and ask me what he could do. "You focus on Wisconsin," he'd tell me. "Arizona is in the bag." And it was.

Charlie genuinely believed in and loved Jesus Christ. He had a profound faith. We used to argue about Catholicism and Protestantism and who was right about minor doctrinal questions. Because he loved God, he wanted to understand him.

Someone else pointed out that Charlie died doing what he loved: discussing ideas. He would go into these hostile crowds and answer their questions. If it was a friendly crowd, and a progressive asked a question to jeers from the audience, he'd encourage his fans to calm down and let everyone speak. He exemplified a foundational virtue of our Republic: the willingness to speak openly and debate ideas.

Charlie had an uncanny ability to know when to push the envelope and when to be more conventional. I've seen people attack him for years for being wrong on this or that issue publicly, never realizing that privately he was working to broaden the scope of acceptable debate.

He was a great family man. I was talking to President Trump in the Oval Office today, and he said, "I know he was a very good friend of yours." I nodded silently, and President Trump observed that Charlie really loved his family. The president was right. Charlie was so proud of Erika and the two kids. He was so happy to be a father. And he felt such gratitude for having found a woman of God with whom he could build a family.

Charlie Kirk was a true friend. The kind of guy you could say something to and know it would always stay with him. I am on more than a few group chats with Charlie and people he introduced me to over the years. We celebrate weddings and babies, bust each other's chops, and mourn the loss of loved ones. We talk about politics and policy and sports and life. These group chats include people at the very highest level of our government. They trusted him, loved him, and knew he'd always have their backs. And because he was a true friend ,you could instinctively trust the people Charlie introduced you to. So much of the success we've had in this administration traces directly to Charlie's ability to organize and convene. He didn't just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.

I was in a meeting in the West Wing when those group chats started lighting up with people telling Charlie they were praying for him. And that's how I learned the news that my friend had been shot. I prayed a lot over the next hour, as first good news and then bad trickled in.

God didn't answer those prayers, and that's OK. He had other plans. And now that Charlie is in heaven, I'll ask him to talk to big man directly on behalf of his family, his friends, and the country he loved so dearly.

You ran a good race, my friend.

We've got it from here.

[Senate Energy GOP @EnergyGOP]

.@BabyDogJustice’s testimony will be admitted into the record without objection.

[Special Envoy Kristi Noem @EnvoyNoem]

Congratulations to the @SecretService hockey team in their victory over @FBI! This annual charity game is a great way for our law enforcement agencies to compete together and give back to the community.

[Scott Jennings @ScottJenningsKY]

Incredible to me that Dems are choosing to die on this hill. @SecRubio delivering a masterclass here.

[Meghan McCain @MeghanMcCain]

How anyone thinks you represent any Republican woman in America is beyond me.

[Sen. John Barrasso @SenJohnBarrasso]

This you?

[Megyn Kelly @megynkelly]

This is sickening. But read it all.

[Margo Martin @MargoMartin47]

.@RobertKennedyJr has officially been sworn in as HHS Secretary!

Time to Make America Healthy Again 🇺🇸

[Sen. John Barrasso @SenJohnBarrasso]

Confirmed ✅
Secretary of Health and Human Services @RobertKennedyJr

[J.K. Rowling @jk_rowling]

Congratulations to every single person on the left who’s been campaigning to destroy women’s and girls’ rights. Without you, there’d be no images like this.

[Sen. John Barrasso @SenJohnBarrasso]

The Laken Riley Act is now the law of the land ✍️🇺🇸

[Secretary Marco Rubio @SecRubio]

Serving as Secretary of State is a remarkable honor. Thrilled to address @StateDept personnel–who represent the greatest, most effective, talented, and experienced diplomatic corps in history. As Secretary, I want to ensure the Department is conducive to creativity, boldness, and new ideas as we work together to build a better future for our next generation.

[President Donald J. Trump @POTUS]

AMERICA IS BACK. 🇺🇸

Every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America.

[Doug Mills @dougmillsnyt]

.@realDonaldTrump walks off an Air Force plane with Melania Trump and his son Barron Trump as they arrive at Dulles Airport in Dulles, Va.

[Sen. John Barrasso @SenJohnBarrasso]

Making America healthy is a goal that @RobertKennedyJr and I share. We had a productive discussion on rural health challenges, combatting the chronic disease epidemic, and protecting patients from one-size-fits-all government mandates. I look forward to his confirmation hearing.

[Sen. John Barrasso @SenJohnBarrasso]

My friend @marcorubio will be an excellent Secretary of State. He will be tough on our adversaries and a trusted partner to our allies.

Marco’s commitment to peace through strength will once again put America first on the world stage.

[Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump]

I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health. The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country. Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!

[Sen. John Barrasso @SenJohnBarrasso]

It is my honor to serve the people of Wyoming and my Republican colleagues as Assistant Majority Leader.

With this new Republican Majority and President Trump, we will deliver a new direction for the American people.
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