Mentalist Oz Pearlman recounted a chaotic incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, describing a sudden escalation of tension involving what sounded like gunfire. The performance, which was underway for President Donald Trump, the First Lady, and the press secretary, was abruptly interrupted by a high-stress security situation.
Initial Confusion and Threat Assessment
Pearlman initially believed the danger stemmed from a potential bomb threat rather than gunfire. He told CNN's Dana Bash about his initial assessment of the situation:
- He did not initially hear shots or see an apparent shooter.
- His first thought was that an explosion was imminent due to the manner in which the situation was approached.
The Incident Escalates
As the situation unfolded, the perceived threat changed. Pearlman stated that he dropped to the ground, and the Secret Service quickly moved President Trump to the ground, placing him near Pearlman.