Trump’s secret succession plan to put Charlie Kirk in the Oval Office… and groom a shock new VP
Republican power brokers had quietly mapped out a MAGA succession plan that would eventually put Charlie Kirk in the Oval Office, a confidante of Donald Trump and Kirk has revealed to the Daily Mail.
Until the plan was thwarted by Kirk’s September assassination, JD Vance was slated to run in 2028 with Kirk as his vice president, and, according to Turning Point USA board member Mike Miller, party leaders envisioned Kirk taking over as president eight years later and grooming Donald Trump Jr to become his VP.
‘The whole gig was, it was going to be JD Vance and Charlie for the eight years after Trump, and the next eight years after that it was going to be Charlie and probably Don Jr,’ Miller said in an exclusive interview.
‘But I’m not going to go into private conversations about that,’ he added.
‘JD Vance is a very capable and competent man. Charlie introduced him to Trump.’
The idea of Kirk – who died age 31 – on a presidential ticket was at the front of the Trump family’s minds soon after they were introduced to him.
In an interview on Megyn Kelly’s podcast the day after Kirk’s assassination, Don Jr described his early impressions of Kirk after meeting in 2016, saying: ‘This kid’s brilliant. This kid could be president himself one day.’
Vance also spoke about his closeness to Kirk in a social media post following his death.
A bold MAGA succession plan involving JD Vance running for President in 2028 with Charlie Kirk as his VP was in the works when he was assassinated, a Turning Point USA source told the Daily Mail
The next phase of that place, according to the source, would have Kirk in the Oval Office eight years later with Donald Trump Jr as his VP
‘Charlie was a true friend,’ the VP wrote on X on September 10. ‘The kind of guy you could say something to and know it would always stay with him.
‘Charlie was constantly calling and texting, checking on our family and offering guidance and prayers.’
Turning Point USA board member Mike Miller told the Daily Mail that he wouldn’t go into private conversations about those plans, but confirmed the plan was born shortly after the Trump family was introduced to Kirk
Vance wrote that Kirk was instrumental in his becoming Trump’s successful running mate.
‘Charlie was one of the first people I called when I thought about running for senate in early 2021,’ he said. ‘Don took a call from me because Charlie asked him to.
‘He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.’
Miller, 77, who has been friends with Trump for years, said that even without Kirk, Vance still had his backing for 2028.
In an emotional interview, the Illinois-based TPUSA board member described Kirk as a surrogate son, and that he was a father figure for the young nonprofit founder.
‘I talked to him every day of his life, from a week after he graduated high school until he was shot. He was like a son to me,’ said Miller.
Don Jr confirmed on a podcast with Megyn Kelly that Kirk was ‘brilliant’ and saw the possibility of him reaching the heights of the Oval Office as possible
Miller said Kirk helped shape the MAGA lineage by introducing Vance to Trump, and Don Jr credited him not only with their 2024 presidential win but also with ‘staffing the entire government’
Miller, 77, said Kirk also found a mother figure in Lori Frantzve, his wife Erika’s single mom
‘If you had a son who was the light on earth for you, and somebody killed them, that’s how it’s affected me,’ he added, his voice breaking and tears flowing.
‘If I could have just taken a bullet for him, I would have been thrilled.’
Miller said that Kirk performed the ceremony for his wedding and recalled a conversation with Kirk’s father Robert acknowledging his parental role in the late 31-year-old’s life.
‘His own natural father said to me ‘He really was your son’. I think I recognized Charlie’s talents many years ahead of his father,’ Miller said.
‘Sometimes, your folks are just there, and you don’t have the same relationship with them.’
‘My dad always said to me, if you see someone with exceptional talents who just needs some backing, there’s no better money spent. It comes back to you a million times, and it comes back to the country.
‘At times, especially when he was first getting started, he wasn’t sure which direction to turn and what to do, and I was always there for him giving the best guidance I could.’
Miller said that he was the one to introduce Kirk to Trump in 2015.
Kirk was raised in the affluent Chicago suburb of Prospect Heights by his parents, Kathryn (left), 68, a mental health counselor, and his father Robert (center), 73, an architect – both political moderates, according to The Guardian
President Donald Trump hugged Erika at the end of the memorial after she gave an emotional speech where she declared to the crowd that she forgave Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson
‘Trump already knew who Charlie was, but hadn’t met him yet,’ he said. ‘Charlie and Trump got to be very good friends.’
Miller, who runs a jewelry business in Illinois, said Kirk also found a mother figure in Lori Frantzve, his wife Erika’s single mom.
‘She was like a surrogate mother. She is a tremendous lady, he was very close with her,’ Miller said.
Kirk’s parents raised him in the affluent Chicago suburb of Prospect Heights. His mother Kathryn, 68, was a mental health counselor and his father, 73, an architect, both political moderates according to the Guardian.
Miller poured praise on Kirk, saying he was ‘the brightest man I’ve ever met.’
‘Charlie was honest and straightforward and did nothing but good for people. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body. He was a true Christian,’ he said.
‘He was not one of these bulls**t religious people. Not one of these whacko bible-pounders.
‘People listened to this man. They knew he was not a charlatan.’
In a speech after Kirk’s death, Erika said she forgave alleged shooter Tyler Robinson. Miller said he couldn’t.
‘Because of my relationship with Charlie, I’m proud that Erika can forgive him. I don’t think I can. Not something this heinous,’ he said.
