About

Julie Tsirkin "What Is That?" or Clueless Reporter Reaction, also known as the What Is That? Reporter Meme, 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 in late May 2026.

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.^[1]

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.^[2]

The clip was reposted several times that day and became the subject of reactions, with many finding her slow reaction to the shots humorous.

For example, on May 23rd, X^[3] 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.

Spread

The viral clip of reporter Julie Tsirkin asking, "What is that?" continued to spread in late May 2026 as it became fodder for memes and other reactions on social media.

On May 23rd, 2026, X^[4] 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.

Later that day, Threads^[5] 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.

On May 24th, 2026, X^[6] user @Pray4TheBatman posted a green-screen edit in which Tsirkin reacts to a video of a J.D. Vance face edit dancing at the club, garnering over 3,400 likes in two days.

Shortly after, Threads^[8] user corey.marshallsteele posted a compilation of memes using Tsirkin's reaction, garnering over 11,000 likes in two days.

On May 25th, 2026, TikToker^[9] @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.

Julie Tsirkin's Response

Later on May 24th, 2026, following the virality of her meme, NBC News correspondent Julie Tsirkin posted a photo of herself on her official X^[7] / Twitter account 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.

Tsirkin's X post was widely reposted online in the following hours and days, including a post on the /r/Fauxmoi^[10] subreddit on May 24th, which garnered over 300 upvotes in two days.

Various Examples

Template / Green Screen

Search Interest

External References