‘I just want to go home’: Erika Kirk seen crying after shots fired at White House dinner

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk was seen crying after shots rang out during the White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in D.C. on Saturday night.

Fox News reported that Kirk was running in the backstage area of the event and wiping tears.

“I just want to go home,” Kirk said, according to video circulating on social media.

The footage shows Kirk being safely escorted out of the hotel by security.

Erika Kirk is Charlie Kirk’s widow. Her husband, who founded Turning Point USA, was assassinated in September 2025 while speaking at Utah Valley University.

In mid-April, Kirk opted not to attend a Turning Point USA event alongside Vice President JD Vance at the University of Georgia because she received threats ahead of the gathering.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 25: U.S. Vice President JD Vance is escorted after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Gettyimages)

“She was very worried about it,” Vance previously said.

“I talked to the Secret Service, and obviously these guys do a very good job, and I said, ‘You know what? Let’s let Erika do what she needs to do for herself and her family,'” he added, with the Secret Service later confirming that the threats were not credible.

Vance, as well as President Donald Trump and several members of the Trump administration, were safely evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ dinner after shots were fired.

One officer was shot, but he was protected by a bulletproof vest.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 25: Dan Scavino jumps over a chair after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump said the suspected shooter, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was armed with multiple weapons before being stopped by Secret Service. He was arrested and is facing multiple charges.

The president shared photos of the arrest on Truth Social. He also referenced the multiple assassination attempts against him during the last few years.

“This is not the first time in the past couple of years that our Republic has been attacked by a would-be assassin who sought to kill,” Trump said during a news conference.”

In light of this evening’s events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully,” he added.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 25: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is making a statement after the cancelation of the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner after a possible shooting. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.