Vance says Christian values key to nation’s future, slams liberalism at TPUSA event

Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at length during a large Turning Point USA gathering at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in honor of Charlie Kirk during which he spoke about the slain conservative activist's impact on his faith and told students that a “properly rooted Christian moral order” was key to the country's future.

After the audience heard Kirk's widow, Erica, speak, Vance took the stage and spoke for a while before answering questions from the audience on a range of issues, from immigration to National Guard deployment and the Second Amendment. But some questions revolved around Vance's faith and the impact it has had on how he governs as vice president. Some asked about his views on religious freedom, while others wondered how he was raising his family in a bi-faith home where his wife is Hindu.

“I make no apology for believing that Christian values ​​are an important foundation of this country,” Vance said when asked about the separation of church and state. “Anyone who tells you that their point of view is neutral probably has the intention of selling you. And I’m at least honest about the fact that I think the Christian founding of this country is a good thing.”

RILEY PRAISE ERICA KIRK BEFORE OLE MIES TURNING POINT EVENT: 'SHE IS A POWER'

Meanwhile, Vance railed against modern liberalism in his comments on faith Wednesday night, calling it a “twisted version of Christianity.”

“Of course there is nothing wrong with focusing on disenfranchised people, for example. This is the essence of liberalism. But if you separate it completely from any religious duty or any civic virtue, then it can actually become, for example, an incentive to lawlessness,” Vance said in response to a question from an interlocutor. “You can’t just have compassion for a criminal. It is also necessary to have justice. That's why I think a properly rooted Christian moral order is such an important part of our country's future.”

Vance went on to say that he doesn't think God should be kicked out of the public square, adding that he doesn't believe that's what the founders intended.

“Anyone who tells you it requires Constitution lies to you,” Vance countered. “What has happened is that the Supreme Court has interpreted the phrase 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion' to effectively kick the church out of every public place at the federal, state and local level. “I think it was a terrible mistake and we are still paying the consequences.”

J.D. Vance Says There Is No 'Unity' With People Celebrating Charlie Kirk's Killing

In addition to answering tough political questions about faith and religion, Vance was also once asked about living in an interfaith family. Vance's wife is Indian.

Participants listen to Vice President J.D. Vance speak during the “This is a Turning Point” campus tour at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Vance noted that when the couple met, he was not a Christian, but over time, he and his wife Usha decided to raise their boys as Christians. Vance said open communication and respect for each other's beliefs played a role in his marriage and his family's decision to raise their children as Christians.

“Usually on Sundays she goes to church with me. As I have told her before, have said publicly, and will now say in front of 10,000 of my closest friends, “Do I hope that she will end up somehow being touched in the same way that I was touched by the church? Yes, to be honest, I really want that.” Because I believe in christian gospel and I hope that in time my wife will see the same. But if she doesn't, then God says everyone has free will, and that's no problem for me.”

Vance also spoke about Kirk's influence on his faith during an event Wednesday night honoring the slain activist. Vance said that, at least in part, Kirk encouraged him to talk more openly about his faith.

Signs with a photo of Charlie Kirk before Vice President J.D. Vance speaks at the Turning Point USA event at the Ole Miss Pavilion at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, Wednesday, October 29, 2025. (Jonathan Ernst/Poole via AP)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“This is another way that Charlie influenced my life – I would say that again I grew up in a generation where, even if people were very deep personal faith, they didn’t talk much about their faith,” Vance told the crowd, remembering his late friend.

“But the reason I try to be the best husband I can be, the best father I can be, the reason I care so much about all the issues that we're going to talk about is because I believe I was put in this position for a short period of time to do as much good as possible for God and for the country that I love so much. And that’s the most important way my faith influences me.”