Kathrine Frich
From birthday parties to grand events, magicians have entertained audiences for generations.
Today, even world leaders and their families are not immune to the charm of a well-executed trick.
Trick before chaos
Mentalist Oz Pearlman has described the trick he performed in front of First Lady Melania Trump shortly before gunshots were heard at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
According to ABC News cited by Unilad, Pearlman revealed he had been attempting to guess the name of press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s unborn daughter during the act.
“I was guessing letter by letter, how many letters were in the name, and then right at the moment when you see it happen, I wrote down the name,” he said.
A stunned reaction
Holding up a note reading “Viviane,” Pearlman presented his guess in front of President Donald Trump, the First Lady and Leavitt.
“I asked how did I do? And that’s when you see First Lady [gasp] and she says, ‘Ah, is that the name?’” he told the outlet.
Leavitt later allowed the name to be shared publicly, confirming the moment seen in footage circulating online.
Shots ring out
The performance was cut short when gunfire erupted nearby, triggering immediate evacuation procedures.
Authorities said a suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, opened fire at a security checkpoint, striking an agent who was protected by a bulletproof vest.
The suspect now faces multiple charges, including attempting to assassinate the US president.
Fear and response
Pearlman recalled the sudden shift from entertainment to fear. “‘Are we about to die?’” he said, describing how he dropped to the ground as the situation unfolded.
“When I dropped down, and dropped down to all fours, and I’m waiting and bracing because I think a bomb’s going to go off,” he added.
Swift evacuation
President Trump later praised the response of security forces, saying the reaction was immediate.
“Melania was very conscious of what happened. I think she knew immediately what had happened – she was saying ‘that’s a bad noise’. We were whisked away along with other people,” he said.
“The performance of the secret service, the police – all of law enforcement – was really very good.”
Sources: ABC News
