Collin Bowen Louden

•ACSM Certified Personal Trainer •Psalms 46:5 •@LeeU volleyball #31 alum ➡️ @LifeU volleyball #23➡️ Palmer College of Chiropractic

[Collin Bowen Louden @Collinrenee31]

You owe no one an explanation for doing what you think is best.

[Benny Johnson @bennyjohnson]

We wept bitterly putting this together...

Charlie Kirk did not fear death. Charlie told us what his legacy would be. Charlie's greatest passion was his faith in Jesus Christ.

Just hours before he was assassinated, Charlie stood on stage, openly proclaiming his love for Jesus Christ. Unafraid, unwavering, and full of conviction. He lived every moment guided by that faith, and in the end, he was taken home by his Savior.

Charlie is a true Christian martyr.

His example is not just inspiring, it is a call to all of us. To stand firm in our beliefs, to shine light into darkness, speak truth and to live boldly in our faith. Charlie showed us what it means to live, and die, with purpose.

This is the legacy he leaves...

[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.

[Ingrid Skop MD @docskop]

As an OB-GYN currently practicing in Texas, the quality medical care I provide did not change after Texas enacted its pro-life law. Nor has the law prevented me from caring for my patients in emergencies.

Don't be fooled by misinformation.

[Lee Flames @LeeUFlames]

Lee University mourns the loss of former Athletic Director, Coach, and All-American, Larry Carpenter. A tremendous man, leader, and friend.

His legacy of Christ-centered excellence in Lee Athletics will carry on in all of our hearts.

📰: https://t.co/32Zy4NwPzQ

[Collin Bowen Louden @Collinrenee31]

Big thank you to @UAHuntsville for letting us use your gym! Our girls loved the opportunity! #cordova #GBB

[Jack Posobiec @JackPosobiec]

All MAGA wanted to do was fix the border and stop war and they labeled us the greatest threat to democracy in the country

Really makes you think

[Ashley St. Clair @stclairashley]

You guys traded mean tweets for war

[zach ragan @zachTNT]

Josh Heupel was definitely right about the playoff

[Collin Bowen Louden @Collinrenee31]

My heart breaks for all the should be mommas who are struggling this Mother’s Day. Your not alone or forgotten. 💗💙

[Daily Wire @realDailyWire]

How it started: How it’s going:

[Collin Bowen Louden @Collinrenee31]

I’m the type of girl who listens to country music while I lift 😅

[Collin Bowen Louden @Collinrenee31]

I feel sorry for my people in Alabama rn, I’m about to go to the beach 🏝

[Collin Bowen Louden @Collinrenee31]

It is January 26th, and the high is 81° 😅 welcome to daytona!

[Collin Bowen Louden @Collinrenee31]

Thankful for good in laws

[Collin Bowen Louden @Collinrenee31]

People will always remember how you treated them during the big moments of their lives.

[Collin Bowen Louden @Collinrenee31]

God is on the throne. He was yesterday, and He will be tomorrow. Democrat, republican, red or yellow, black or white, my prayer is that our leaders lead with integrity, character, wisdom, and with the convictions of God; and that the people of this country follow in suit.

[Collin Bowen Louden @Collinrenee31]

One of the biggest struggles I have, is do I take a nap or exercise? 😅

[relatable @byreIatable]

I cant even call it "procrastinating" anymore, I should just be calling it "destroying my future" at this point

[Collin Bowen Louden @Collinrenee31]

I’m the type of friend who checks up on you when you haven’t talked to me in months