Erika Kirk left the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in tears.
On Saturday, chaos erupted in the Washington Hilton hotel when gunman Cole Allen charged through a security checkpoint in an attempt to storm the ballroom, where Donald Trump, JD Vance, RFK Jr., Erika Kirk, and other political figures met for the Correspondents’ Dinner. The gunman did not end up making it into the room before being subdued by law enforcement, but shot an officer in the process. Luckily, the officer was wearing a bulletproof vest and is going to be OK, according to Trump.
8:34:29 PM: Surveillance video shared by the president shows a person barreling at full tilt through a Secret Service metal detector, stunning a half dozen officers. A swarm of officers chase after. Just down a staircase, 2,600 WHCD guests dine on a salad appetizer in the… pic.twitter.com/cI3eVrV8A9
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 26, 2026
When news of the violent situation made its way into the ballroom, fear took over as guests quickly began scrambling for their lives. Trump and Vance were rushed off the stage by Secret Service agents, while other attendees thought quickly by hiding underneath their tables — including Charlie Kirk’s widow.
Related: Cole Allen NOT Cooperating With Law Enforcement
According to eyewitnesses via People, Erika dove for cover underneath a table before ultimately evacuating the ballroom. In footage shared on Instagram by CNN reporter Sara Sidner, Erika can be seen exiting the building in tears, weeping:
“I just want to go home.”
Watch (below):
View this post on Instagram
In another video, the Turning Point USA CEO is seen standing outside near FBI director Kash Patel, who according to eyewitnesses, consoled her. Watch (below):
Erika Kirk was spotted in tears and clearly shaken up after the shooting took place at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
She said she just wants to go home. pic.twitter.com/OwPnU3VMei
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) April 26, 2026
What a scary evening… Particularly for Erika, who unforgettably lost her husband and father of her children to a gunman at a political event in Orem, Utah just seven months ago.
Across social media, users have weighed in with various reactions to seeing the right-wing mother-of-two, who has stood behind the second amendment in the wake of Charlie’s murder, which she claimed was not a “gun problem,” in tears over the shooting:
“Maybe we revisit gun laws and regulations after this? We have a serious bipartisan issue we can resolve. If not for politicians maybe for children.”
“But not again? What kind of security are these people getting? Quite sloppy….how in the world can guns be fired? I don’t understand but let’s just wait for the Truth Social post…..Blaming the Media….who knew?”
“Now they know how school children and teachers feel!!”
“Gosh Erika how do you think CHILDREN FEEL when they shoot up their schools! Yet you keep selling out for the party who lets them keep shooting”
Others offered a more empathetic approach:
“I will say even if you don’t care for her or Charlie, she’s a recent widow and anything will trigger pain. Especially gunshots. Have a heart social media.”
“I am a liberal and never cared for Charlie Kirk, but everyone being cruel should be ashamed of themselves. She lost her husband. Saying anything else but my condolences is the problem within our party. Acting like the same people we don’t want to be.”
Some, however, raised eyebrows at the whole situation:
“Polls down . Staged”
“it was staged so they can deflect from the war”
“Staged for the Epsteinth time.”
“Staged! How could anyone even bring a gun or be there as an unknown?????”
“He is losing the war and his ratings, so guess what???? TIME TO STAGE ANOTHER BUTLER!! Lol”
Following the madness, the gunman was identified as California teacher Cole Allen. His alleged manifesto has since been revealed, in which he revealed his main targets were “Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.” You can read the eerie document in full HERE.
Reactions?
To learn more about the impact of gun violence, visit https://www.apha.org/topics-and-issues/gun-violence
-
Categories
