Oz Pearlman recalls WHCA shooting scare, says eye contact with Trump was ‘surreal’

WASHINGTON, DC: Mentalist Oz Pearlman, on Sunday, April 26, described the terrifying moments when gunfire and panic interrupted the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, saying he was mid-performance for Donald Trump and senior White House officials when chaos suddenly erupted.

Pearlman said the scene inside the ballroom quickly shifted from celebration to confusion, forcing guests and security personnel to hit the floor as agents moved to protect the president.

Oz Pearlman recalls moments of attack

Appearing on CNN, Pearlman said he had been on stage performing for Trump, Melania Trump and Karoline Leavitt when he first heard a disturbance.

“It wasn’t gunshots. I wasn’t sure if it was a tray,” he said, explaining that from the stage he had a clear view over the packed ballroom.

He then noticed people suddenly converging around one area of the room and feared something even worse was unfolding. “At first I thought maybe a bomb was about to go off,” Pearlman said.

The performer said instinct took over as he dropped to the ground. “It was incredibly surreal,” he said. “I get down and then I watch. It feels like slow motion because of the way the adrenaline is.”

Pearlman said that while crouched low, he saw Secret Service agents move Trump to the floor as part of the emergency response.

In one surreal moment, he said he briefly locked eyes with the president.

“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, it was really shocking.”

After crawling backstage, Pearlman said the atmosphere remained tense and disorganized. “It was chaos,” he said.

He added that JD Vance appeared composed amid the confusion and helped reassure those nearby.

White House Correspondents Dinner shooting horror

The dramatic interruption took place Saturday night at the Washington Hilton during the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner, a gathering of presidents, journalists, lawmakers and celebrities.

Authorities say a suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, exchanged fire with law enforcement near the ballroom entrance, prompting the evacuation of Trump and top officials.

Prosecutors said he faces charges including assault on a federal officer and using a firearm during a violent crime.

One Secret Service officer was struck in the vest and later reported to be in good condition.

Oz Pearlman, a mentalist, was called to perform at the event.

Traditionally, the event features comedians such as Conan O’Brien or Jimmy Kimmel, with Matt Friend taking the stage last year.

In 2019, however, organizers broke from convention by inviting historian Ron Chernow to offer a perspective on White House press coverage.