Turning Point USA honors Target employee confronted by customer for wearing Charlie Kirk shirt

Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and widow of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, publicly recognized Jeannie Beeman at the AmericaFest 2025 conference on Saturday, praising her response to a widely shared confrontation at work earlier this month. 

Beeman, 72, a Target employee from Chico, California, went viral after a video showed a customer challenging her for wearing a red “Freedom” T-shirt, a design associated with Charlie Kirk, who was wearing a similar one when he was assassinated.

The customer accosted Beeman and said she supports racism. During the encounter, Beeman chose not to engage in an argument and ended the exchange, drawing widespread attention online. 

At the TPUSA event AmericaFest in Phoenix, one of the organization’s largest gatherings of the year, Beeman was brought onstage where she received applause from attendees. 

Footage shared on social media showed Kirk embracing Beeman and thanking her for her composure and courage, Newsweek reported. 

In an X post shared after the appearance, Kirk wrote that the interaction with Beeman was “such a precious moment.”

The confrontation at Target sparked significant public reaction and fundraising support for Beeman after the incident went viral on social media. The woman seen confronting Beeman later apologized for her conduct. Beeman has reportedly received more than $250,000 in donations, according to Newsweek.