Oz Pearlman Describes White House Dinner Gunfire, President Trump Taken Down by Security
Oz Pearlman, a ‘mentalist’ performing for guests at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington DC, has described the moment gunfire erupted during the event. Mr Pearlman was speaking with President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on an elevated stage when the incident occurred.
Mr Pearlman stated he 'went down very quickly' as Secret Service agents 'very effectively – but quite violently' brought President Trump down. “We were about half-a-metre apart… face-to-face looking at each other on the ground,” he recalled, amidst the sound of gunshots, believing, “We're about to die.”
The performer was in the midst of a trick for the First Lady and press secretary when the shots were fired. He initially speculated it might be a bomb due to the coordinated actions of the security detail. After being taken down, Mr Pearlman observed President Trump being tackled nearby. He described maintaining eye contact with the President for 'One Mississippi, Two Mississippi' before agents swiftly removed Mr Trump from the room. Mr Pearlman and two others then 'crawled out' to safety.
President Trump, in a subsequent interview, stated he 'wasn't worried' during the ordeal, despite security directives to go to the floor. Law enforcement officials identified the suspected gunman as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, who reportedly exchanged fire with security on a floor above the dinner. Sources close to the investigation indicated Mr Allen, from California, intended to target officials within the Trump administration. He is scheduled to be formally charged in Washington later on Monday.
