Ethan Bowen

[The Disrespected Trucker @DisrespectedThe]

This message needs to be heard far and wide!

[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.

[miss white @cinecitta2030]

Charlie Kirk as described by his wife Erika

[Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump]

TO MY GREAT FELLOW AMERICANS…

[ThePersistence @ScottPresler]

St. Michael the Archangel,

defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the

wickedness & snares of the Devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,

& do thou,

O Prince of the heavenly hosts,

by the power of God,

thrust into hell Satan,

& all the evil spirits,

who prowl about the world

seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen

[NUCLR GOLF @NUCLRGOLF]

⛳️🪿🐶 #WATCH — This golfers home course asked him to bring his dog to help scare the geese off: “She had the best day of her life. She has clearly found her purpose.”

(Via: mollymoose75/reddit)

[Barstool Rocky Top @BarstoolTenn]

The Spanish call of Joey Aguilar’s BOMB is absolutely ELECTRIC⚡️🍊

#VAMOSVOLS @CarlosOnTheGo12

[Rocky Top Now @rockytopnow]

Absolute chills

[MrBenRichards @MrBenRichards]

When a father takes care of a baby 🫡🥶

( Survival is only option for boys 🤣 )
Wait for Last one baby 🤣🤣🤣

[Mrgunsngear @Mrgunsngear]

Dude hears a "bump in the night" and goes to investigate.

He encounters a seemingly aggressive bear and pumps some 5.56 into it.

Plan accordingly.... 🐻

#rural #nature #bear #HomeDefense #AR15

[U.S. Army @USArmy]

🎉 250 Years Strong! 🇺🇸

Today, we celebrate 250 years of courage, commitment, and sacrifice. From 1775 to 2025, the U.S. Army has stood ready to defend freedom, at home and around the world.

Today we honor the legacy of the Soldiers who came before and the next generation who will carry the torch.

Will you be part of the next 250? Visit https://t.co/efvq4SQH5c to learn how you can serve, lead, and make history.

[₩₳Ɽ ₱₳₮Ⱨ @WarPath2pt0]

RIP to a real one--

[InfantryDort @infantrydort]

I was a SAW gunner for our final FTX in OSUT. McKenna MOUT site, Fort Benning.

We were wearing MILES gear. I was killing bad guys left and right, my buddies were dying around me. I thought they were just bad.

Turns out, my vest had the battery fall out. So I was immortal lol

[BucketheadDyn @BucketHeadDyn]

After 8 years, SHE SAID YES

From the mother of my kids, to getting your masters. My girl deserved this sooner. I just wasn’t in a right space.

If yall know me, Pops absolutely loved her and would always tell me she’s the one everytime I’d go complain about her to him lol…

He’d even pick her over me to take him to his chemo appointments…

But then losing my dad and going thru shi like gaining 100+ pounds, getting debt, and pretty much giving up on myself… She made sure to do everything she could to make sure I didn’t give up on myself and our kids. She’s legit my ride or die. From the top to the bottom. Idc where I’m at in life. I’m happy I got her❤️

[non aesthetic things @PicturesFoIder]

Delivery men vs dogs 🤣🤣

[Barstool Rocky Top @BarstoolTenn]

Shane Gillis leading Rocky Top in Knoxville is just perfect.

[ℝ𝕀ℤℤ ℂ𝕆𝕄𝔼𝕋 @Shr00msy]

We were hoping you would say that.