Oz Pearlman the mentalist who tried to read Trump’s mind seconds before shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner speaks out

Just moments before and possibly within seconds of gunshots being heard at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton, US President Donald Trump was on stage with celebrity mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was performing one of his signature mind-reading acts in front of Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

A now-viral moment from the event shows Pearlman revealing a written note to Melania, prompting a visibly shocked reaction from the First Lady. Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, can also be seen looking surprised after his act. Within seconds, chaos broke out as gunshots were heard and top officials were rushed to safety. Now Pearlman has shared his experience during the shooting.



Trump, Melania, Cabinet members, and other federal officials attending the high-profile event were unharmedly evacuated moments after the shooting. Later, multiple media outlets, including The New York Times, CBS, and The Associated Press, reported that Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, is in custody in connection with the shooting, citing anonymous law enforcement officials.

Oz Pearlman recalls the terrifying moment

Pearlman shared his account of the frightening incident on his Instagram Story alongside a video from the event, describing how the atmosphere shifted within seconds from entertainment to panic.

He wrote, “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.”

Recalling the tense moments that followed, Pearlman said, “We hit the deck fast and Secret Service acted decisively and professionally to protect us all.”

He added that he was only a few feet away from Trump during the chaos. “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.”

Who is Oz Pearlman?

Oz Pearlman, 43, is an American mentalist, magician, Emmy Award winner, and New York Times best-selling author who describes himself as a “magician of the mind.”

His interest in magic began at the age of 13 after watching a magician perform on a bar mitzvah cruise. Inspired by the experience, he became determined to master the craft, reported usnews.

Pearlman attended the University of Michigan at 16, where he studied electrical engineering while continuing to perform at children’s parties and private events.

He rose to national fame after finishing third on Season 10 of America’s Got Talent in 2015 and has since built a major career performing for corporate audiences, athletes, politicians, and television viewers.

As his website describes him, “Oz is the most televised, followed on social media and sought after mentalist in the world, having dazzled audiences with his unique mind-reading ability for nearly three decades.”

“Oz’s client list reads like a who’s who of politicians, professional athletes, A-list celebrities, and Fortune 500 companies. His natural charisma and charm make him the perfect choice for corporate events and private parties alike.”

His goal that night: Read Trump’s mind

Ahead of the event, Pearlman had written in a column for The Spectator that his main goal for the evening was to bring Trump into his act and attempt what he called the ultimate challenge — reading the mind of the President.

He wrote, “My goal is to have Donald Trump take part – and to save the best for last. If I could read only one mind in this world, it would be that of the most powerful person in the world.”

Explaining why Trump fascinated him as a subject, Pearlman added, “No one has ever really managed to predict what the President will say or do or think next. Maybe I will finally get a chance to unlock that puzzle. Trump is a figure unlike any other, and also in some ways the hardest to read.”