CNN commentator Van Jones revealed this week that conservative activist Charlie Kirk privately reached out to him on September 9, just one day before Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University. Kirk invited Jones to a civil debate on crime and race, offering to “disagree agreeably.”

Jones said he only discovered the message after Kirk’s death. “We were beefing… and then after he died, my team called and said, ‘Van, he was trying to reach you,’” Jones recalled. Kirk’s invitation, Jones said, reflected a desire for respectful dialogue despite their public clashes. “He was not for censorship. He was not for civil war. He was not for violence. He was for dialog, open debate, even with me.”

The revelation adds a poignant layer to their recent feud, sparked by differing views on the racially charged killing of a Ukrainian refugee. Kirk argued the murder was racially motivated, while Jones pushed back. Their disagreement spilled onto social media, where Jones says he faced waves of hostility.

Conservative commentator Natalie Jean Beisner criticized Jones’ account, calling it “psychotic to lie about Charlie this way.” Despite the tension, Kirk’s private message showed his wish to turn conflict into conversation.

Jones said Kirk’s note “was pointing a way out” amid growing political violence in the U.S. He urged the country to follow Kirk’s example of “civil discourse, civil dialog, debate. Let’s disagree agreeably.” Kirk’s funeral is scheduled for Sunday and is expected to draw tens of thousands, including former President Donald Trump.