Hilarious: Reporter Becomes Instant Meme for Her Reaction Outside White House

One of the wildest things about the shooting outside the White House on Saturday was that the reporters who were on the North Lawn, setting up or giving their evening reports, then were shown on camera reacting to the shots.

We saw people like ABC's senior White House correspondent Selina Wang almost immediately recognize that it was gunshots. She ducked and took cover.

I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots. It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now. pic.twitter.com/iqdQwh4soq
— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) May 23, 2026

But one reporter, NBC Capitol Hill correspondent Julie Tsirkin, wasn't getting it.

NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Julie Tsirkin was preparing to report from the White House when multiple shots could be heard being fired nearby. pic.twitter.com/d8POlm5QUF
— NBC10 Boston (@NBC10Boston) May 23, 2026

"What is that?" Tsirkin asked her cameraman. He responded that perhaps it was fireworks. She then ran with other reporters to the White House Press Briefing Room for safety. A Secret Service agent stood in front of the door to protect them, and they were on lockdown for about thirty minutes until they were released.

As our sister site Twitchy observed, many saw that initial clueless look on Tsirkin's face. So if you know the internet, you know that she was going to face some mocking and memes.

It didn't take long until people were off to the races with the memes, and her reaction went viral.

When you grow up, find a career, but your meme past catches up with you 😉 pic.twitter.com/WDZAFFkyDh
— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) May 24, 2026

😳🤯😂 pic.twitter.com/eNRscpArP4
— Politi_Rican 🇵🇷 𝕏 🇺🇸 (@TheRicanMemes) May 24, 2026

The ugliest Presidential Center ever, courtesy of Barack Obama.

What is that? 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/quHY2lMTc9
— Planet Of Memes (@PlanetOfMemes) May 24, 2026

There's likely to be a lot of indoctrination going on in that Learing Center.

The clueless "What is That" reporter is now a meme pic.twitter.com/tqMu6XEOxf
— LetsGoGifs (@LetsGoGifs) May 24, 2026

Adios now, to Vax man Colbert.

You have to have a sniffing one.

Here's my meme. I'm now a content creator and stuff. 😌 pic.twitter.com/wqi0h7T3Jq
— Cynthia Holt (@Ghostofcynthia) May 24, 2026

Tsirkin showed she had some humor and leaned into all the kidding about her.

I'm glad I could take one for the team with @nbcsnl on summer break

Thanks for the memes, internet! Hope you'll stick around for the reporting 🙇‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/m4a5xGmvIa
— Julie Tsirkin (@news_jul) May 24, 2026

Tsirkin said she was glad she could "take one for the team with @nbcsnl on summer break." She thanked people for the memes and invited them to "stick around for the reporting." Good reaction to roll with it, and hopefully, she isn't as confused when it comes to most reports she makes to the public.

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