Trump felt Charlie Kirk ‘could have been president someday,’ CNBC host reveals

CNBC host Joe Kernen said on Thursday that President Donald Trump told him he believed conservative activist Charlie Kirk would’ve been president someday.

During the latest episode of CNBC’s “Squawk Box” – which celebrated its 30th anniversary on Thursday – Kernen revealed that Trump called him to congratulate him on the show’s three decades on-air. During the call, the host noted that Trump praised Kirk, who was assassinated on Wednesday.

“He’s devastated about Charlie Kirk and said that, ‘What a guy, what a great individual,’ and he said he helped him greatly in the last election and thinks that Charlie Kirk could have been president someday, he was such a talented guy.”

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Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday during the opening event of his “The American Comeback Tour,” held at Utah Valley University. He was speaking from a “Prove Me Wrong” table when he was assassinated in front of thousands of audience members, many of them college students. 

The FBI announced Thursday that they have recovered the high-powered bolt action rifle believed to be the firearm used to assassinate Kirk. The suspect is still at large.

The tragic shooting prompted an outpouring of grief and condolences from conservative figures – many of them Charlie’s personal friends – as well as U.S. lawmakers, and world leaders. 

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Trump made a statement from the Oval Office Wednesday condemning the assassination. 

“Charlie inspired millions, and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror,” he said. “He was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much — the United States of America. He fought for liberty, democracy, justice and the American people. He’s a martyr for truth and freedom, and there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth.”

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Kernen mentioned that Trump told him the nation would heal following Kirk’s murder. 

“Then he went on to say the country will heal. He’s focused on what he has been focused on, and he says, ‘I’m focused on winning, if the country wins and if I do everything I can to help the country win, that we’re all going to be able to come together again,’” he said. 

Kernen also relayed Trump’s praise for “Squawk Box.”

“President Trump actually called in, and I figured I’d take that call. ‘Happy anniversary. Happy 30 years.’ He loves what we do. Yeah, loves what we do every morning.”