Washington D.C. – May 25, 2026 – A NBC News correspondent, Julie Tsirkin, has become the subject of widespread online commentary and meme creation following her reaction to gunfire outside the White House on Saturday evening. Video footage shows Tsirkin, who was reporting live from the North Lawn, displaying a moment of apparent confusion and questioning, "What is that?" as multiple shots rang out nearby.
The incident occurred around 6:10 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2026, when a man identified as Nasire Best allegedly approached a White House checkpoint and opened fire. Tsirkin's stunned on-air response, characterized by some as "clueless" and by others as a delayed recognition of the danger, quickly circulated across social media platforms.
Tsirkin has since publicly addressed the viral reaction, acknowledging the memes and expressing humor about the situation. In posts on 'X', she shared images of the memes featuring her reaction, indicating she is "in on the joke." While some users defended her response, suggesting the immediate sound of gunfire could be disorienting, others offered criticism.
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Other journalists present at the scene also reacted to the event. ABC News senior White House correspondent Selina Wang was reportedly filming a social media video when the shots occurred and immediately took cover. Reporters on the North Lawn were directed to shelter inside the press briefing room as the area was locked down.
The suspect, Nasire Best, reportedly had prior encounters with the Secret Service. Authorities confirmed that no protectees or White House operations were affected by the shooting. Tsirkin later explained in an Instagram statement that she had not immediately identified the noises as gunfire because she was within the White House grounds at the time. The event, which involved approximately 20 to 30 gunshots according to witnesses, has brought renewed attention to security protocols around the presidential residence.
