Although the new assistant press secretary for the White House mourned the political assassination of Charlie Kirk during an unscripted on-air tribute at a local TV station last year, her own political messaging once apparently included a rifle and an obscenity directly toward the then-president of the United States.
Pleasant Plains native Beni Rae Harmony eulogized Kirk, her former boss, in her September 2025 comments on WICS after he was murdered. In 2021, she was photographed holding a rifle and wearing a “Fuck Joe Biden” T-shirt, according to The Guardian. The London-based publication reported that the photograph of Harmony and an older man posing with rifles in matching anti-Biden shirts was posted on Instagram in November 2021 by Jarome Bell, a Republican who mounted a failed campaign for Congress in 2022.
A screenshot of that post, published by the Daily Mirror, shows that it included the caption: “My campaign Public Affairs Director @beniraeharmony is a beast. This is how we roll.”
Former Republican congressman and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood of Peoria, who promotes civility in public discourse, said the image is inappropriate.
“Somebody that worked for me wouldn’t have done something like that,” he added.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly has defended hiring Harmony for the political appointment, telling The Guardian that she “has been a trusted voice for the MAGA movement as a White House correspondent. She will be an outstanding addition to President Trump’s communications team as an Assistant Press Secretary – we look forward to having her on board!”
Harmony did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Illinois Times. She wrote on her Facebook page that she was “incredibly grateful to President Trump for this opportunity and his trust. I’m looking forward to this next chapter, serving the American people and continuing to fight for the American Dream.”
The gun image is not the only one of Harmony that could be viewed controversially. In August 2025, a local photographer posted pictures on her Facebook page from a photoshoot with Harmony that includes an image of her lying on the ground with what appears to be an American flag shirt or jacket draped over her. No other clothing is visible in the photo.
“What is deemed ‘patriotic’ is wildly different from person to person and that spectrum has definitely broadened over the last decade,” said Indianapolis-based vexillologist (flag expert) Michael Green. “So traditionally, I’d say it would be frowned upon. But in today’s world where almost every societal and governmental precedent has been thrown out the window unceremoniously, I’d say this is right on par.”
While Supreme Court free-speech decisions have rendered the U.S. Flag Code unenforceable, Harmony has been affected by some laws that are. According to Sangamon County court records, her Illinois driver’s license is under suspension for traffic violations and not eligible to be reinstated until Feb. 1, 2027. On April 15, 2025, she was charged with driving on a suspended driver’s license. Harmony pled guilty in March and was ordered to pay a $402 fine.
Her new White House gig comes despite questions of how Harmony has represented her educational achievements and her role at WICS. She left WICS about a year ago after an unauthorized on-air tribute to Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder who was assassinated while speaking at a campus debate in Utah.
At the time of her departure from WICS, her LinkedIn resume said she held a political science degree from University of Illinois Springfield. After being questioned about the claim by an IT reporter, Harmony changed the resume to say she was not a graduate.
But Legistorm.com, a website tracking people in the political arena, lists her as holding a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from UIS and an associate’s degree in global management from Arizona State University. Both institutions say they have not conferred any degrees to Harmony.
In 2025, Harmony said she was suspended and then resigned from WICS. Heather Voudrie Nodine, WICS’s news director, disputed the suspension claim at that time, saying no one at the station had been suspended or fired during the preceding 90 days. She also noted that Harmony never worked in the station’s news division but instead hosted Marketplace, a program produced by its advertising department.
Harmony acknowledged working in promotions but insisted she covered community news, including fires, firefighters and police. Since leaving Springfield, Harmony has worked as a reporter in Washington for Real America’s Voice, where she covered the White House.
For local supporters, the White House appointment is a hometown success story.
“She’s really done well for herself,” said Dianne Barghouti Hardwick, chair of the Sangamon County Republican Party.
Hardwick said she first encountered Harmony through Turning Point activism and invited her to set up a table at a Republican Lincoln Day event. She described Harmony as ambitious, helpful and “effervescent.”
“She really is a bubbly person, willing to do things,” Hardwick said.
Hardwick also volunteered that appearance had helped Harmony.
“She’s beautiful, which I’m sure always helps,” she said. “She’s tall and thin and dresses beautifully.”
David Timm, a former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy and longtime friend of Harmony’s family, said her persistence after leaving WICS impressed him.
“She could have given up,” he said. “A lot of people would have given up.”
Timm praised her television work featuring firefighters and community organizations. He also described her as someone willing to challenge others while retaining a sense of humor.
“She’s intelligent with her questioning but will also not back down and give it right back to anybody, even if it’s the president,” he said.
Timm said political disagreements should not eclipse recognition of a local person’s accomplishment.
“Why can’t we just stop hating and be proud of somebody regardless of what side they’re on?” he asked.
Hardwick called the appointment an encouraging development for Springfield.
“I think that her success is a shine of hope,” she said.
A local woman lands a job at the White House, and Illinois Times decides the real story is digging through years of old photos, social media posts, and personal controversies. Heaven forbid we simply acknowledge someone from our community achieving a major career milestone. The editorial priorities here are pretty telling. I’ve always understood why this garbage publication is free. And with journalism like this, they’re still charging more than it’s worth.
whhy cant we all get along