‘We will not be intimidated’: WHCA president condemns political violence as rescheduled dinner gets underway
Months ago, as the White House Correspondents’ Dinner got underway, more than 2,000 guests had just taken their seats. The wine was being poured, the bread baskets were being passed, and a first course of burrata salads had been served.
Before the gunshots rang out, there was some decidedly more lighthearted drama happening at the head table, where President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and other top officials were seated on a dais with members of the White House Correspondents’ Association board.
The mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was slated to be that evening’s entertainment, was performing a magic trick.
Pearlman, who is performing again tonight, was guessing the name of Karoline Leavitt’s unborn daughter.
“I was performing right then for the president, the press secretary, and the first lady. It’s kind of like a pivotal moment in the trick when you’re just about to do the reveal – like ‘wow.’ And we hear commotion,” Pearlman recalled the next morning on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Dana Bash.
Pearlman guessed “Vivian.” (Leavitt would announce the birth of Viviana days later.)
As Pearlman, leaning over between the Trumps, held up name cards in his magic trick, Melania Trump suddenly looked aghast, mouth open, seemingly realizing before those around her that all was not all right.
“The timing is so weird because you see them be amazed because of the name, and they go ‘oh!’ And then at that moment is when we all see what happened,” Pearlman added.
Moments later, the Trumps were hustled off the stage and into a secure space.
