Who Is Michelea Ponce? Enloe Health Nurse Goes Viral After Confronting Elderly Target Employee Over Charlie Kirk Shirt
Dec. 17, 2025 | U.S. News
Michelea Ponce, a nurse employed by Enloe Health in Northern California, is facing mounting backlash after a TikTok video surfaced showing her confronting an elderly Target employee over a Charlie Kirk “Freedom” T-shirt. The incident, recorded inside a Target store, has sparked widespread criticism online and calls for disciplinary action.
Viral Target Confrontation Sparks Outrage
In the now-viral video, filmed inside a Target location, Ponce is seen questioning an older female employee who was stocking shelves while wearing a red T-shirt featuring the word “Freedom,” commonly associated with conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
As the employee asks why she is being filmed, Ponce continues to press her about the shirt, at one point calling the worker “stupid” and accusing her of supporting a “racist.” The Target employee calmly responds that she is allowed to wear a red shirt as part of the store’s dress code and repeatedly denies the accusations.
The exchange ends with the employee walking away and politely wishing Ponce a good day — a moment that many viewers online cited as highlighting the contrast between the two.
Social Media Reaction and Calls for Accountability
The video quickly circulated across X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, triggering strong reactions from users across the political spectrum. Many criticized Ponce for confronting and filming an elderly worker over political attire while the employee was on the job.
Several viral posts identified Ponce as a nurse at Enloe Health, prompting calls for the healthcare system to investigate the incident. Some users have demanded that Enloe Health terminate her employment, while others have urged Target to ban her from its stores.
As of publication, Enloe Health has not issued a public statement regarding the controversy.
Who Is Michelea Ponce?
According to publicly available information, Michelea Ponce is a nurse based in Orland, California, and works for Enloe Health, a nonprofit healthcare system headquartered in Chico.
On TikTok, where she posts under the handle @motherofballers, Ponce has amassed approximately 19,600 followers and more than 1.1 million likes across her videos.
Her social media content frequently touches on personal and political topics, some of which have drawn attention and criticism in the past.
Past Controversies and Online Posts
In a separate TikTok video that has resurfaced amid the backlash, Ponce is seen arguing about her mother wanting to purchase a Bible for her teenage son. In the video, she references living in what she describes as a “military house with two lesbians,” though it remains unclear who she was referring to.
Ponce has also posted about being married to a Mexican man and has previously been involved in local political debates.
Previous Local News Attention
Ponce made local headlines in October during a dispute involving the Orland City Council over which flags could be displayed on city flagpoles.
She was identified as the founder of the Hispanic Heritage Flag Society and submitted a request asking the city to display Mexican flags during holidays such as Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day, and Día de los Muertos.
At the time, Ponce stated that she shared her interactions with city officials on social media to highlight what she believed was a lack of factual or legal justification behind their decisions.
Ongoing Fallout
The Target confrontation continues to circulate widely online, with debate centered on workplace boundaries, political expression, and professional conduct — particularly given Ponce’s role as a healthcare worker.
No official disciplinary action has been announced, and it remains unclear whether either Target or Enloe Health will take formal steps in response to the incident.