Mentalist Oz Pearlman Unveils Magic Trick Performed on Press Secretary Moments Before White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting

Mentalist Oz Pearlman Unveils Magic Trick Performed on Press Secretary Moments Before White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting

The performer, who hosted Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Association dinner, has disclosed details of the illusion he demonstrated to Karoline Leavitt just before gunfire erupted at the event.

Pearlman was captured on camera engaging with White House Press Secretary Leavitt and First Lady Melania Trump, who was positioned alongside President Donald Trump. During their interaction, the mentalist presented them with a handwritten note. Seconds thereafter, the group sought shelter beneath the stage table before Trump and Melania were escorted from the Washington Hilton ballroom.

The Magic Trick Revealed

ABC News' chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl subsequently spoke with Pearlman, who explained the contents of the mysterious paper.

"Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary, said, 'Challenged me. I'm having a baby next week.' We were talking about it because we both have children, and she goes, 'Can you guess what I'm naming my daughter?' And so this was happening backstage," Pearlman recounted. "We were interrupted because the president walked in. And so I said, 'Let's save it for when we get up on the dais.'"

Upon taking the stage to introduce himself to the presidential couple, Pearlman proceeded with the illusion involving Leavitt, performed in front of both Trump and the First Lady.

"I was coming to say hello to the president and to the first lady, and I was guessing letter by letter how many letters were in [Leavitt's unborn child's] name," he explained. "Then right at the moment where you see it happen, I wrote down the name and I said, 'How did I do?' And I turned around and that's when you see the first lady go, 'Oh! Is that the name?'"

Shooting Interrupts the Performance

Before Leavitt could validate whether Pearlman's prediction was accurate, an armed individual breached the ballroom. The suspect, subsequently identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, reportedly forced his way past security personnel at the Washington Hilton carrying multiple firearms.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced during a press conference that the suspect will face charges including firearm possession and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, with additional charges anticipated. At a separate White House briefing, Trump disclosed that one officer sustained a gunshot wound but was protected by a bulletproof vest.

The Predicted Name

Once the situation was stabilized, Pearlman shared with Karl that Leavitt had authorized him to reveal the name inscribed on his paper.

"I believe the name is Vivian. So yeah, that's what I guessed," he stated.