Karoline Leavitt, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Remember Charlie Kirk As a ‘Beaming Light’ In a Dark World at Vigil

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt remembered Charlie Kirk as a “beaming light” who will inspire her each time she now steps to the podium during a Sunday night vigil for the conservative influencer and organizer.

“Simply put, Charlie was a beaming light in a world that is so consumed by darkness. It’s going to take all of us in this room and all of us across the country to take up Charlie’s torch, because that is exactly what he would want us to do,” Leavitt said.

She continued: “We have to lean on our faith, dig in, and fight back harder than ever before for the beliefs and convictions that Charlie made his life’s work. That is how we will honor his family and honor his legacy.”

Leavitt was among a number of other high-profile Republicans to speak at Kirk’s vigil, which was held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump’s press secretary spoke to those in attendance after Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and before Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Overall, 85 members of Congress attended the vigil.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., soon after Leavitt spoke, told the crowd about a time when he and Kirk talked about how it was worth it to “die fighting with our boots on” to protect America’s constitutional rights. The Health and Human Services Secretary said Kirk did that when he was shot and killed while in the middle of a questions-and-answers session at Utah Valley University last week.

“Charlie gave his life so that the rest of us would not have to suffer those fates worse than death,” Kennedy said. “Now it’s our job — he’s no longer there to lead us — to rush in and fill the breach and win the battle for our country, for God, and for our families.”

Kennedy’s closing remarks drew a loud “USA! USA! USA!” chant from the crowd.

You can watch a longer slice of Leavitt’s comments above, via C-SPAN.