Distraught Erika Kirk hid under a table after gunfire erupted at the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) Dinner, crying, 'I just want to go home.' This shooting comes just over six months after her husband, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated in Utah.
Shocking Incident at the Washington Hilton
A sobbing Erika Kirk was seen being ushered out of the Washington Hilton in the wake of the shooting that rocked the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday. CNN's Sara Sidner posted a clip of Erika hurriedly walking from the ballroom, choking up and expressing her desire to leave. The suspect from Saturday's incident has been named as California man Cole Tomas Allen, 31.
Erika's Recent Tragedy and New Role
This shooting occurs just over six months after her husband, Charlie Kirk, was shot dead while speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Utah. Shortly after his death, Erika stepped in as the CEO of the right-wing activist group. Earlier this month, she backed out of appearing alongside Vice President JD Vance at an event after receiving threats. Photos from earlier in the night on April 25 showed a beaming Erika, pictured with Fox News personality Lawrence Jones, seated beside controversial Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Erika was a guest of Fox News at the event. The network's Bret Baier reported that he saw the former Miss Arizona 'crying in the back hall, as you can imagine, after the assassination of her husband.' Other witnesses said that at one point, FBI Director Kash Patel was consoling Erika.
President Trump Unharmed, Suspect in Custody
The president was uninjured and was rushed off the stage. The armed man, who officials said was a guest at the Washington Hilton where the dinner was being held, was taken into custody and was expected in court Monday. Police believe he opened fire and acted alone, but did not say who his intended target was or describe a motive. 'When you're impactful, they go after you. When you're not impactful, they leave you alone,' Trump, safe and uninjured and still in his tuxedo, said at the White House two hours later. 'They seem to think he was a lone wolf.'
Details of the Shooting and Security Concerns
The shooting unfolded just outside the vast subterranean ballroom holding thousands of dinner guests, disrupting minutes after it began an annual event meant to honor journalism and the First Amendment. This year's event was being especially scrutinized because it was the first time since Trump became president that he had attended. Trump told reporters later that he hoped the event would be rescheduled within 30 days, though the fact that an armed man was able to rush toward the ballroom raised instant questions about security precautions at an event attended each year by senior government officials. A video posted by Trump showed the suspect running past security barricades as Secret Service agents ran toward him. One officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but was recovering, officials said. The gunman was tackled to the ground and was not injured, but was being evaluated at a hospital, police said. Allen is facing two firearm-related charges, including a count of assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.
Erika's Recent Political Involvement
On Friday, it was reported that Erika helped arrange a White House sit-down between President Donald Trump, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and MAHA advocates amid their recent dissatisfaction with the administration. Erika brought the disgruntled Make America Great Again moms and others to meet with Trump this month, according to Politico. Her intervention came as a recent poll found that almost half of the people who identify with the MAHA movement believe that Trump's administration has not done enough to meet their goals, even though they helped propel him to the White House in the 2024 presidential election.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
