It had the makings of a career night for Oz Pearlman, a mentalist and social media sensation, who was an atypical choice to serve as the featured entertainer at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
The role has been filled by some of the country’s best known comedians or late night hosts, such as Trevor Noah, Conan O’Brien or Jimmy Kimmel. Musicians have also been featured, including Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles.
But there had never been a mentalist.
“I had such a big show planned,” said Mr. Pearlman, during an interview shortly after the crowd at the Washington Hilton was sent home by authorities. “It was going to be a huge night.”
Mr. Pearlman did not wait for the show to start his mind-reading tricks. He said that while dinner was being served, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, challenged him to read her mind.
“I’m with Karoline and the first lady, guessing the name of someone Karoline is thinking of,” he said.
“I figure out how many letters it is, and Melania goes, ‘Let’s get the president involved.’”
President Trump turned to see Mr. Pearlman work the name out on a pad of paper. “It’s a peak moment,” said Mr. Pearlman. He asked Ms. Leavitt to tell everyone the name, which he had already written down. And as she said it, he ripped the page off and showed them.
“And then we hear the noise,” he said.
It sounded like a tray of dishes had crashed to the floor, he said, and first he thought that someone had suffered a heart attack.
“Then we see all the Secret Service people storming in,” Mr. Pearlman said.
He heard shots fired and hit the floor. He said that he wondered if someone had a bomb.
“At that moment, I truly believe the room is about to explode,” Mr. Pearlman said. His wife was in the main room, but he couldn’t get to her. Then, the Secret Service officers brought Mr. Trump to the ground right next to Mr. Pearlman.
“He’s facing stage right, I’m facing stage left — we’re right next to each other,” Mr. Pearlman said. “I turn and look. He turns and looks right in my eyes. Then they rush him out.”
Mr. Pearlman said he stayed on the ground a bit longer, along with others on the dais. He said that no one knew what was happening. “It was pure fear in everybody’s eyes,” he said. “I thought, standing up I might get shot.”
Mr. Pearlman started out as a teenager performing card tricks for diners at an Italian restaurant in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he grew up. Mr. Pearlman makes his living by doing high-dollar corporate events and first surfaced on the pop-culture radar when he competed on “America’s Got Talent.”
“There’s definitely a disappointment,” Mr. Pearlman said about what occurred at the dinner. But, he added, “people could have lost their lives tonight, and from what I understand, an officer acted very bravely, took a bullet and survived. Thank God he’s fine.”
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