Vice President stated that the assassination of Charlie Kirk prompted him and First Lady to choose to have a fourth child.
Vance disclosed this information in a passage from his upcoming book, which was acquired by the Wall Street Journal, where he described the 31-year-old Kirk as his “best friend” in the political arena.
“As my wife held Charlie Kirk’s widow on the first day of her terrible sorrow, Erika told Usha between sobs that she regretted having only two kids with ,” Vance writes.
“For years, I had asked Usha to have another baby, and for years she had told me she was done—especially now that public service had elevated us into the national spotlight. But something changed for Usha, and not long after we buried my friend, she became pregnant with our fourth child, a boy.”
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JD Vance speaks about Charlie Kirk’s death
Kirk was fatally shot at a event in September. The Vances seemed to be among those who were most affected by Kirk’s death.
Referring to Kirk’s death, Vance writes, “one life was stolen from us, but another was given.”
“I don’t know why God does things like this,” he mentions, adding “But I am grateful to Him that there will soon be another source of joy in our lives.”
JD Vance’s friendship with Charlie and Erika Kirk
JD Vance maintained a friendship with and disclosed in the book (as indicated in the excerpt) that he sought Charlie’s advice during the initial phase of the 2024 presidential election campaign, particularly as his family faced challenges in adjusting to their new roles as public figures.
Additionally, he and Usha share a friendship with Erika.
In an interview with Fox News in October 2025, Erika expressed her admiration for JD and Usha, highlighting their support during the difficult period following Charlie’s passing.
“He and Usha, they are the most incredible people. Incredible. With such genuine love,” she said. “I mean, just everything they did for us was so humanized. They just, they were there for us. They’ve been there for us.”
The bond between Erika and JD fueled speculation regarding the politician and his wife’s marital difficulties following their embrace at a Turning Point USA event held at the University of Mississippi in October 2025. The rumors of marital strife were exacerbated by JD’s comment expressing a desire for Usha to convert from Hinduism to Catholicism.
