We Went Inside The Patriotic Ropes As Thousands Lined Up To See JD Vance, Erika Kirk Pick Up Charlie’s Mantle

THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI — Seven weeks to the day since Charlie Kirk was assassinated on a college campus in Utah, Erika Kirk and Vice President JD Vance took the stage at another university, honoring the late founder of Turning Point USA in an emotional, packed rally.

The Daily Caller was a part of the traveling press with Vance on the trip to Ole Miss.

Though a stormy day in Oxford, Mississippi, the vice president was cheery as he and the second lady exited the plane and were greeted by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. Vance’s staff, administration officials and the press buzzed with excitement on the way to the trip, as reports began to circulate that thousands of students were already lining up for the event.

Wheels down in Tupelo, Mississippi. Gov. Tate Reeves greets the VP and the Second Lady. The Senate Mississippi delegation, Wicker and Hyde-Smith, traveled with the VP today. @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/UCTAlpek0I

— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) October 29, 2025

Lines of students snaked around the Sandy and John Black Pavilion arena ahead of the event, which was filled to the brim an hour before Erika Kirk took the stage.

As the vice president’s motorcade zipped through Mississippi and then campus, the Daily Caller watched from within as Americans got out of their car. Some lined up on the side of the road or stopped on the side walk to cheer and wave, eager to catch a glimpse of the vice president.

Upon entering the arena, the Caller was placed just feet from the stage to witness the vice president address the already roaring crowd.

Ten-thousand students donned MAGA hats, waved American flags and posters reading, “I am Charlie Kirk.” In the corner of the stage was a chair with a “freedom” t-shirt draped over it and a microphone, a tribute to Charlie, who was assassinated Sept. 10.

Many of the students were there to see the vice president and Erika, but also memorialize Charlie and learn how they could carry on his legacy.

In a tribute to Charlie, there is an empty chair with a freedom t-shirt draped over it. pic.twitter.com/yXuCEn9VDs

— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) October 29, 2025

It’s packed here at Ole Miss for the @TPUSA campus tour. 10,000 are the estimated to be in attendance tonight.

Erika Kirk will soon take the stage. VP after. pic.twitter.com/TEqyKqgAPv

— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) October 29, 2025

Prior to Kirk taking the stage, the arena sang “God Bless the USA.” A video of Erika’s late husband then played. His voice, introducing Erika, echoed throughout the arena.

The Caller watched as students rose to their feet as the new CEO of TPUSA walked out onto the stage, wiping her tears and acknowledging the crowd. Erika donned a “freedom shirt,” the same design Charlie was wearing when he was assassinated.

The arena seemed to hold its breath; the audience was somber, yet grateful that Erika had found the strength to carry on her husband’s legacy.

The 10,000 students fell silent as Erika gathered herself behind the lectern.

Then a shout broke through and echoed off the walls.

“We love you!” a student in the upper seating section yelled.

Ole Miss students remained standing for the entirety of Erika’s speech, which lasted 30 minutes.

The packed stadium fixated on her every word, clapping and cheering at appropriate moments, but remaining mostly silent.

From the Caller’s position, there were very few phones in hands capturing the moment. The students’ eyes stayed on Erika, hardly ever leaving as she encouraged them to keep up her husband’s fight.

Kirk told the students that she prayed about appearing at this stop alongside Vance, saying she heard Charlie in her heart urging her to do the campus tour, to “reclaim the territory” from the opposition.

“You guys are the heartbeat of Turning Point USA. You’re the heartbeat of this organization,” Erika told the crowd of students, switching between telling stories of her late husband and encouraging them to get involved and profess their conservative values.

Ole Miss sings “God Bless the USA”@TPUSA @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/XgYIvU6k7v

— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) October 29, 2025

“I want to encourage you, especially the students here: find your voice. You are the courageous generation. That’s what you are,” Erika told the students.

“All of you, Gen Z, you are the courageous generation. Hear me when I say that my husband believed that to his core, that’s why he went on campuses. That’s why he was trying to reach you. You are the courageous generation. Own it,” she continued.

Just found out there was a counter event tonight at Ole Miss with former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp and Rep. Ro Khanna.

Their event drew just over 100 people.

TPUSA’s tour stop drew over 15,000 (5k couldn’t get in, and we even emailed the 13,000 adult registrants not to come). pic.twitter.com/kp2BzwoZfs

— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) October 30, 2025

It was then Erika’s turn to introduce the main event.

Calling him a close friend and recounting how he flew to comfort and support her in wake of the TPUSA founder’s murder, Erika encouraged the students to welcome the vice president.

The crowed erupted as Vance walked on stage, some students standing on their tippy toes to try to get a better look. Many pulled out phones to capture the moment.

Vance embraced Erika, looked out at the crowd and took his place at the lectern.

It was a warm welcome that caused Vance to announce that he completely scrapped his prepared remarks to speak from the heart.

Vance explained to the students that his role at the event wasn’t really to lecture the students, but rather to pick up Charlie’s mic and take questions from college students who disagree with him, to debate them and hopefully change their minds, like the Turning Point founder set out to do years ago.

The vice president first memorialized his friend, an emotional and strong address.

But then he pivoted to the real reason the crowd gathered there, for the opportunity to debate the vice president.

The line of students waiting to ask Vance a question never shortened in length, wrapping around the inside of the arena. The vice president continuously remarked that he would take as many as he could, returning to Washington, D.C., an hour and a half later.

Though some students asking questions voiced their support for Vance, others disagreed with the vice president or sought his explanation on various administration moves, or even his own personal beliefs.

“I can tell that most of you apparently agree with a lot of what I said and I’m sure that a lot of you disagree with some of the things I said. That’s O.K,” Vance said.

“We don’t need in our political movement people who agree with us on every single issue,” Vance continued. “What we need is people of good faith, who love the United States of America and are willing to work hard to save it.” (RELATED: US Bible Sales Soar After Charlie Kirk Assassination)

Students asked Vance to clarify his position on abortion, with one girl expressing that she felt the vice president had changed his stance. Another student challenged the administration’s position on Israel. One attendee pressed the vice president on why Trump wants to primary Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie. Another student wanted to know how Vance raised his children in an interreligious marriage.

Vance, though sometimes poking fun at students for their lengthy questions, was joyful and composed as he took some somewhat contentious questions.

Much of the arena seemed impressed with each answer from the vice president. Some students laughed, cheered. Some around the Caller remarked as Vance retorted each student’s question with apparent ease.

VANCE on why Trump is trying to primary Rep. Thomas Massie:

“The problem that Thomas has had, it’s not one issue, it’s not three or four issues. It’s that every time that we needed Thomas for a vote. He has been completely unwilling to provide it…

I wish that that weren’t…

— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) October 30, 2025

Following his remarks, the arena broke out in a “48” chant, a nod at Vance potentially succeeding Trump in the White House.

“Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Vance laughed.

Throughout the night, Erika and Vance emphasized how Charlie’s assassin didn’t end Turning Point USA or its mission Sept. 10. The arena was one example. And the students who lined up in droves to hear how they could continue on the mission of Charlie Kirk were another.

Eventually, the vice president’s staff signaled to the Caller that the event would be wrapping up soon and Vance then did the same to the students.

“I think one of the critical lessons of Charlie Kirk’s life to his dying breath, this was a man who never lost hope in his Creator and never lost hope in the United States of America,” the vice president said to cheers from the crowd. “So let’s remember that and carry that forward.”