Bubba Wallace:
“I met Charlie Kirk at Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park a little over a year ago. It wasn’t a planned meeting—we just happened to cross paths at the start of a hiking trail near Cades Cove. I recognized him instantly, and he recognized me. There was this moment of surprise, maybe even tension, because we come from such different worlds. He’s a political activist known for his outspoken conservative views, and I’m a NASCAR driver who has spoken openly about social justice. On paper, we probably seemed like two people who’d never have a reason to share more than a polite nod. But that day turned out to be something I’ll never forget.
We ended up hiking together, and what started as small talk turned into a lengthy, honest discussion—both before and after we walked the trails. We disagreed on a lot of things, especially when it came to race, activism, and how society should address inequality. Charlie had strong beliefs about personal responsibility and felt that the media and culture wars were tearing people apart unnecessarily. I pushed back, sharing my experiences in NASCAR and the challenges that come with being a Black driver in a sport historically dominated by white culture. We didn’t change each other’s minds that day, but what struck me was his willingness to listen. He didn’t interrupt or dismiss my perspective, and I tried to give him that same respect.
We talked for hours—about politics, family, faith, and even what we both loved about the outdoors. Hiking around Cades Cove gave us both space to drop our guard a little. There’s something about being surrounded by nature that makes big conversations feel less like arguments and more like an exchange of truths. At one point, we both just stopped talking and took in the view, realizing how lucky we were to live in a country where we can disagree so fiercely yet still share the same trails.
That’s why hearing about Charlie’s death shook me so deeply. No one deserves to die the way he did. I know his politics stirred up a lot of emotions—he had his supporters and his critics, and he was never shy about speaking his mind. But beyond all of that, he was a father, a husband, and a man who cared deeply about what he believed in. Losing him in such a senseless way is a tragedy for his family and for this country.
If there’s one thing I took away from that day, it’s that behind every headline, every viral post, every tweet, there’s a human being. Charlie and I never agreed on much, but we found common ground in our shared love of the outdoors, our families, and our passion for this country. I’ll always carry that memory with me. I hope others will too—and I hope we find a way to honor him by remembering that our disagreements don’t have to make us enemies.”