Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, became visibly emotional during a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night.
Video footage from backstage showed Kirk being escorted out by security personnel while in tears. Witnesses described her as appearing distraught, with some accounts noting that she initially sought shelter under a table amid the chaos before being consoled by individuals including FBI Director Kash Patel.
Fox News’ Sean Hannity reported that a visibly distraught Kirk said “I just want to go home” as the chaos was unfolded.
“My prayers are with Erika Kirk tonight, who stepped up courageously to run Turning Point after her husband was murdered, and who is unfairly criticized at every turn. May God be with her,” Fox News contributor Joe Silverstein said in a statement.
Several others, including conservative activist Riley Gaines, offered prayers for Kirk and condemned leftists and conspiracy theorists for immediately claiming the event was “staged.”
The incident occurred approximately seven months after the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, on September 10, 2025. Kirk had attended the dinner as a guest, including at a pre-event VIP cocktail party hosted by Fox News.
The security incident at the dinner unfolded when shots were fired near the security screening area around 8:40 p.m. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other cabinet members were quickly evacuated from the head table by Secret Service agents.
The suspected shooter, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives. After charging past the security checkpoint, he exchanged fire with Secret Service personnel, striking one, though the agent was not seriously injured due to a protective vest.
No attendees were injured, and Allen was apprehended. President Trump later addressed the event in a news conference, during which he praised law enforcement and thanked them for the swift response.
Trump further noted that he wished to continue with the event but could not due to security protocols. He later vowed to reschedule the program within the next 30 days.
