Mentalist Oz Pearlman offered a gripping firsthand account Sunday of the moment gunfire erupted outside the ballroom at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, describing a surreal scene that included a fleeting, face-to-face encounter with President Trump.
Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Pearlman told host Dana Bash that he was in the middle of performing a trick for President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt when a commotion broke out at the Washington Hilton. “It wasn’t gunshots. I wasn’t sure if it was a tray,” he recalled. From his elevated position on stage, Pearlman said he had a clear view of the room and saw “everyone swarming one table.”
Initially fearing a bomb, Pearlman said he dropped to the ground. “It was incredibly surreal. I get down on all fours facing stage left, and then I watch. It feels like slow motion because of the way the adrenaline is,” he said. The suspect, identified by multiple outlets as 31-year-old Cole Allen, exchanged gunfire with law enforcement outside the ballroom. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Saturday that Allen faces two charges: using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
One Secret Service officer was struck in the vest but was taken to a local hospital and is in “good spirits,” according to interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll. The incident forced a swift evacuation, as guests scrambled for cover under tables amid the chaos.
Pearlman recounted that as he lay on the floor, Secret Service agents also took President Trump down. For about two seconds, the mentalist and the commander-in-chief locked eyes. “I have never been that close to the president or face-to-face in a very intimate moment,” Pearlman said. “We’re looking at each other. I don’t know what’s going on. It was just a stare and then out. It was really shocking.”
After army-crawling backstage, Pearlman encountered Vice President Vance, who he said “looked very calm and was very assuring.” Still, the atmosphere backstage was one of “chaos,” he added.
The trick Pearlman was performing involved guessing the name Leavitt, who is pregnant, is considering for her daughter. He told ABC’s Jonathan Karl on Sunday that he wrote down “Vivian,” and the first lady reacted in shock just before officers ordered everyone to take cover. Pearlman said he will “never forget” the events of the night.
As the investigation continues, lawmakers have called for transparency. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has demanded a full accounting of the security response, while President Trump has blamed the attack on what he termed “anti-Christian hatred.” The suspect, who reportedly traveled cross-country by train, is scheduled to be arraigned Monday and has so far refused to cooperate with the FBI.
