Turning Point CEO Erica Kirk has harshly criticized journalists following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, accusing them of repeatedly labeling President Donald Trump extreme terms such as “Nazi” and “Hitler.”‘In a video message posted on X and shared through her late husband Charlie Kirk’s podcast platform, Kirk said some media outlets have used such language as they continue to attend the high-profile event.“Many of the left-wing journalists who attended WHCD had spent years calling President Trump a ‘Nazi,’ a ‘threat to democracy,’ and a ‘Hitler,’ yet they still happily attended the evening’s events…”She added that this behavior reflected an inconsistency in their positions.“If they truly believed what they were saying, they would either happily be willing to dine with ‘Hitler,’ or they would be lying and radicalizing American citizens with a narrative they know to be grossly exaggerated.”Kirk further said, “Either way, this exposes their ultimate hypocritical game: to create hatred and then profit from the results; even if it costs someone their life.”
why did she attend the dinner
Kirk said she traveled across the country to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner to confront reporters about their coverage of her and her late husband.Explaining her decision, she said: “A lot of reporters in that room tried to dehumanize me, and frankly, I wanted to meet some of them face to face.”According to The Daily Beast, she added, “Why are you talking about me when you can talk to me?” Kirk also described an interaction with a reporter, recalling her saying, “It was nice to have a name on my face, especially with all the slander and lies and accusations surrounding my husband’s murder and myself.”“The gunfire started and it was chaos,” Kirk recalled of the dinner.
Claims about “dehumanization” and media conduct
In her speech, Kirk linked the attack to what she described as a broader climate of hostility.“There’s a huge level of dehumanization that’s prevalent in this country,” she said, arguing that violence is being normalized in public discourse.She also criticized the behavior of reporters during the shooting, saying they were focused on capturing footage rather than prioritizing safety.“While filming, these reporters would be using their phones to look for moments to capture…and they might accidentally capture themselves being shot,” she said.The incident occurred just months after the murder of Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed at a public event in 2025. Erika Kirk has since taken over the leadership of Turning Point USA and has become the subject of intense public scrutiny.She said she continues to face criticism and misinformation.“Every morning I wake up and see new headlines about me. Comedians dressed up in whiteface. People saying I’m not fit to be CEO,” she said.Kirk also criticized political opponents and commentators, including members of the media and public figures, accusing them of contributing to a hostile environment.“Our country has been changed beyond recognition. These people have distorted the truth to the point where they incited the murder of my husband,” she said.The dinner, held at the Washington Hilton Hotel, was interrupted when a gunman allegedly tried to storm the venue.According to authorities, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen tried to breach security near a ballroom where senior officials and reporters had gathered.Shots were fired during the incident, and a Secret Service agent wearing a bulletproof vest was struck but survived. President Trump was escorted out of the venue and the event was halted.
