FIRST ON FOX: Vice President JD Vance used his convention address Thursday night to honor Charlie Kirk one year after his assassination and is set to cast the November election as a fight over what he calls Americans’ “birthright,” Fox News Digital has exclusively learned.
Vance is expected to weave the birth of his fourth child, Alec, into a sweeping argument about family, jobs, education, public safety, religious liberty and homeownership while delivering some of his sharpest attacks yet against Democrats.
Vance took the stage before Trump delivered the convention’s closing remarks, ending the inaugural two-day event designed to rally voters in a critical election. He spent part of his speech outlining the future he sees for not just the GOP, but America.
TRUMP DANGLES $5,000 CHECKS AS DEBT SURGES — BUT ONLY IF GOP CAN CLEAR MAJOR MIDTERM HURDLE
On the anniversary of Turning Point USA’s co-founder Charlie Kirk’s death, Vance honored his friend.
“I was elected Vice President of the United States one year ago today, on September the 10th of last year, that good friend was taken from us when Charlie was assassinated. Now, Charlie left behind two children, two little kids. They were too young to fully understand,” said Vance.
Vance recalled Kirk’s message to young men that few callings are greater than falling in love, starting a family and becoming a father — words that have taken on new meaning for the vice president since he and second lady Usha Vance welcomed their son Alec in July.
He used Kirk’s legacy to transition into touting the “birthright” exceptionalism Americans have.
“I believe the Founders built this nation on a promise that echoes our Creator: That every American child is born an heir, born with a birthright,” said Vance. “Born with the right to inherit the blessings of this country. Not because of who their parents are. Not because of what they look like or where they come from. But because they are Americans.”
Vance used the opportunity to outline his vision for rebuilding the nuclear family — taking shots at Democrats.
“I think about what the Democrats have said about our shared birthright as Americans, or frankly, the lack thereof in Michigan. One Democrat in particular, one candidate has said, and I quote ‘f the nuclear family.’ What are you even talking about?” said Vance.
“They come not from a desire to serve you or our fellow Americans, but they come from a very deep emptiness in the soul,” he added.
A protestor emerged with a Mexicana and Palestinian flag to which Vance responded, “What the people at home missed is that we just had a protestor interrupting us and waving the Mexican flag.”
“Well. Well, my friend, if you love Mexico so much, get your ass over there. I’ll buy you the plane ticket,” the vice president said.
Vance said he should be waving the American flag, adding, it is a symbol for the fight for the American dream.
“This fall, the Democrats are running candidates who will tell your children what they’re allowed to say, how they’re allowed to live, and importantly, who they ought to hate. Because that’s what the Democrat Party is about in 2026. It’s not about you, it’s about foreign fraudsters, and it’s about who they hate,” said Vance.
