Mentalist Oz Pearlman guessed the name of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's unborn daughter moments before gunshots broke out at the White House Correspondents' Dinner [1].
The incident juxtaposes a moment of lighthearted entertainment with a sudden security breach at one of the most high-profile media events in the U.S. capital. The timing of the trick occurred just as the atmosphere shifted from celebration to chaos.
The event took place on Saturday, April 25, 2026 [2], in Washington, D.C. [3]. Pearlman was performing his mentalism act to showcase his abilities to the attendees when he approached Leavitt to reveal the name of her baby girl, who is expected to arrive in May 2026 [4].
Reports regarding the accuracy of the guess vary. Some sources indicate the baby is named Vivian [5], while others suggest the name is Viviana [6]. While some reports state Pearlman correctly identified the name, others suggest the reveal was mixed up [6].
Gabriella Power expressed surprise at the performance. "It blows me away … seeing the pictures … he figured it out in real time … I have no idea how on Earth he does this, but I’m super fascinated by it," Power said.
Power further commented on the nature of the act. "Maybe he’s tapped into some extra senses that we haven’t yet, but it’s incredible," Power said.
The mentalism trick served as the final moment of normalcy for the top table before the shooting occurred [3]. The transition from a social reveal to a security emergency has drawn significant attention to the timeline of the evening's events.
“"he figured it out in real time … I have no idea how on Earth he does this"”
The intersection of a celebrity performance and a violent security breach at the White House Correspondents' Dinner highlights the volatility of high-profile political gatherings. While the mentalism act provided a brief moment of levity, the subsequent shooting underscores the persistent security risks associated with events involving top administration officials and the press.
