Reporter 'Julie Tsirkin's Slow Reaction To Gunshots At The White House Inspires Memes

1 hour ago 2

Want Your Business Featured Here?

Get instant exposure to our readers

About

Julie Tsirkin "What Is That?" or Clueless Reporter Reaction is a viral video of NBC News reporter Julie Tsirkin asking, "What is that?" and looking behind her in confusion as shots are fired off at the White House on May 23rd, 2026. The clip went viral over the following days, particularly as a green screen exploitable meme format on X / Twitter and Threads, in which the clip of Tsirkin is edited into new contexts. Her confused reaction also became the subject of image macros.

Origin

On May 23rd, 2026, a man with a gun reportedly walked up to the White House security checkpoint. Upon seeing him pull the gun, the Secret Service members shot and killed him.

At the time, NBC News correspondent Julie Tsirkin was setting up outside the White House for a report. The gunshots are heard in the background and she turns to look in the direction of the sound, confused. She asks her camera crew, "What is that?" Shortly after, they are evacuated from the scene.

The clip was reposted several times that day and became the subject of reactions, with many finding her slow reaction to the shots funny. For example, on May 23rd, X user @TaraBull posted the clip, writing, "Clueless reporter on White House lawn hears barrage of pews, doesn't take cover and asks 'huh, what is that?'" garnering over 1,500 likes in three days.

Clueless reporter on White House lawn hears barrage of pews, doesn't take cover and asks "huh, what is that?" pic.twitter.com/uk9r5VMnYL

— TaraBull (@TaraBull) May 24, 2026

Spread

On May 23rd, 2026, X user @LetsGoGifs posted a green screen edit of the video, where the background has been removed from Tsirkin's reaction, gaining over 25,000 likes and 2,500 reposts in three days.

If anyone needs the clueless reporter Green Screen, here is it, for all your meme making purposes: pic.twitter.com/e67ZmxMlHl

— LetsGoGifs (@LetsGoGifs) May 24, 2026

Later that day, Threads user @sloppyjoproductions posted a screenshot of Tsirkin's reactions, writing, "When you hear someone else's sizzling fajitas and want to change your order," garnering over 5,200 likes and 220 reposts in three days.

A meme reading, "When you hear someone else's sizzling fajitas and want to change your order." The meme uses an image of Julie Tsirkin confused.

On May 24th, X user @Pray4TheBatman posted a green screen edit where Tsirkin reacts to a video of a J.D. Vance edit dancing at the club, garnering over 3,400 likes in two days.

https://t.co/gGiD8Bif7L pic.twitter.com/Fjz2vwdIv1

— I'm Batman (Parody) (@Pray4TheBatman) May 24, 2026

Later that day, Tsirkin posted a photo of herself on X posing next to a computer monitor with one of her memes on it, writing, "Thanks for the memes, internet! Hope you'll stick around for the reporting 🙇‍♀️," gaining over 43,000 likes in two days.

Shortly after, Threads user corey.marshallsteele posted a compilation of memes using Tsirkin's reaction, garnering over 11,000 likes in two days.

On May 25th, TikToker @acjunior72 posted an edit where Tsirkin reacts to the alien invasion from War of the Worlds with confusion, garnering over 133,000 views in a day.