Mentalist Recounts Terrifying Moment at White House Dinner
An Emmy Award-winning mentalist who was performing a mind-reading trick for Donald Trump when shots were fired at the White House Correspondents' Dinner has spoken out about the harrowing experience. Oz Pearlman was in the middle of revealing a card trick when the visible shock of Melania Trump, who appeared to mouth 'what's happening?', signaled the unfolding chaos.
It remains unclear what was on the card that shocked Melania and other guests at the top table. The mentalist to the stars told Playbook he 'didn't see [the shooting] coming.' 'I thought the room was about to explode, I dropped faster than anyone,' he said.
After the suspect, named as Cole Thomas Allen, was detained, Pearlman wrote on Instagram: 'Thank you all for checking on me. I am ok and thank God everyone is alright! Was in the middle of performing for the President and First Lady when I looked up to see a commotion, thought it was a bomb about to go off or shots fired. We hit the deck fast and Secret Service acted decisively and professionally to protect us all.'
'We laid on the ground, I was a couple feet away from President Trump, eyes locked with one another. It was likely the scariest moment of my life and will never forget it. So happy everyone is ok.'
Background on Oz Pearlman
Oz Pearlman has performed tricks for Jennifer Lopez, Stephen Curry, and even guessed Joe Rogan's PIN number live on his podcast. He came third on America's Got Talent, impressing the nation with his ability to guess names, numbers, or thoughts, almost like a mind reader. Pearlman insists he is not a 'psychic' but describes himself as an 'honest con man.'
Before the dinner, he spoke to CNN about his hopes that his performance could unite the room. When asked if he could guess what was going on inside 'unpredictable' Donald Trump's head, he said: 'I don't believe any of it's unpredictable. In fact, I think that there's a lot of telegraphing of moves. So when you say unpredictable, I disagree vehemently. I think there's a playbook that's been played throughout that's so easy to spot. And so I don't believe what you just said whatsoever. I think it's very easy to spot the patterns. And the more you study him and his actions, his behaviours, his mannerisms, I think are all going to play to my advantage in the room if I get the chance.'
Investigation into the Shooting
Investigators into the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting found anti-Trump and anti-Christian posts on the suspect's social media accounts. A senior official told CBS that the suspect sent some of his writings to family members before the attempted attack, and one of them alerted the police. The suspect has been identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California. He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives when he charged at a security checkpoint by the ballroom.
The writings, some of which were found in the hotel room where he was staying—the same hotel where the dinner was—did not mention the correspondent's dinner. One family member who was interviewed by officials said Allen would often reference planning to 'do something' to fix the issues in today's world.
How the Attack Unfolded
Last night, gunshots rang out at the hotel where the formal White House Correspondents' Dinner was taking place on Saturday evening, with one Secret Service agent hit but 'in good spirits,' the President said. According to reporters in the room, commotion was heard towards the back of the ballroom just after 8:30 pm on Saturday evening, while attendees were being served the first course of their meal.
The President, the First Lady, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had taken their seats minutes before. Dramatic footage from the scene showed personnel rushing on stage to usher away Trump, his wife, Melania, and several other top administration officials. Multiple agents in full protective gear then replaced them, pointing their guns across the room and over the heads of hundreds of high-profile guests.
Trump later posted pictures of the suspect in the shooting lying face down on the carpeted floor, topless.
