(Photo Credit: NBC)
NBC News correspondent Julie Tsirkin showed she could laugh at herself after unexpectedly becoming a viral internet meme following a frightening shooting incident outside the White House over the weekend.
Tsirkin drew widespread attention Saturday night after video footage captured her reaction as gunshots suddenly rang out near the White House while reporters were gathered nearby. In the clip, dozens of shots can be heard in the background as the correspondent appeared visibly confused rather than panicked.
“What is that?” Tsirkin was heard asking while looking toward the source of the gunfire. Moments later, she turned back toward producers with a puzzled expression and repeated the same question.
The clip was later shared on X by NBC 10 Boston and quickly spread across social media, where users began turning the moment into memes and edited videos. The internet response exploded within hours, with users remixing the footage alongside unrelated viral clips and political moments.
Rather than reacting defensively, Tsirkin embraced the attention and joked about the situation herself the following day. On Sunday, she posted a lighthearted response on X acknowledging that she had officially become part of internet meme culture.
“Thanks for the memes, internet! Hope you’ll stick around for the reporting,” Tsirkin wrote.
Her post included a smiling photo of herself standing in front of a computer screen displaying one of the memes inspired by the now-viral clip.
Social media users created numerous edited videos using Tsirkin’s reaction. Some paired the footage with clips of Donald Trump, former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and Gavin Newsom stumbling during a basketball game, among many other viral moments.
While the internet focused on humor, the incident itself was extremely serious. Authorities said a 21-year-old gunman opened fire near the White House on Saturday, discharging three shots before engaging in a gunfight with Secret Service agents. The suspect was killed during the exchange.
The shooter was later identified as Nasire Best. According to reports from the New York Post, Best was described as a “mentally troubled individual who was well-known to the Secret Service for repeatedly loitering around various entry posts” surrounding the White House complex.
Reports also stated that Best had previously violated a court order requiring him to stay away from the White House following an earlier incident in which he entered a restricted area and allegedly made bizarre statements to police, including claiming he was Jesus Christ.
Although Tsirkin’s calm and confused reaction became the center of online jokes, other journalists nearby responded much differently during the chaos. Selina Wang, a senior White House correspondent for ABC News, was reportedly seen diving for cover as shots were fired before being escorted to the White House briefing room for safety.
