Mentalist Oz Pearlman to Stun Trump at White House Correspondents' Dinner

The renowned mentalist has spent months studying the former president's tells and mannerisms to create a career-defining moment.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:36pm

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An abstract close-up photograph of a high-end, glittering texture like shattered disco glass or velvet, captured in dramatic studio lighting to create a sense of glamour and luxury.Pearlman's mentalist performance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner aims to create a moment of wonder and awe that transcends political divides.Washington Today

Oz Pearlman, a renowned mentalist known for wowing audiences with his uncanny ability to read minds, has been tapped to perform at this year's White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Unlike his typical shows where he interacts with a variety of people, Pearlman has spent the last few months laser-focused on studying the behaviors and tells of former President Donald Trump, aiming to create a moment that will 'blow everyone away' and 'shatter someone's worldview of how the world works.'

Why it matters

The White House Correspondents' Dinner is a high-profile annual event that brings together journalists, politicians, and celebrities. Pearlman's selection marks a departure from the typical comedic entertainment, as the organizers seek to provide a unifying experience through wonder and awe rather than divisive humor. Pearlman's ability to seemingly read minds and defy expectations has the potential to captivate the audience and create a memorable moment that transcends political divides.

The details

Pearlman, who has appeared on TV multiple times a month, typically focuses his mentalist skills on a wide range of people. However, for this special performance, he has dedicated months to studying the unique mannerisms and behaviors of former President Donald Trump, aiming to deliver a 'career-defining' moment that will leave the audience in awe. Pearlman believes that by showcasing a genuine, unscripted reaction from Trump, he can create a sense of wonder that brings people together, rather than relying on humor that can be subjective and potentially divisive.

  • Pearlman has been studying Donald Trump's behaviors and tells for the past few months in preparation for the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
  • The White House Correspondents' Dinner is scheduled for next week.

The players

Oz Pearlman

A renowned mentalist known for his ability to seemingly read minds and defy expectations, Pearlman has been tapped to perform at this year's White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

Weijia Jang

A CBS journalist who selected Pearlman to perform at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, seeing his unique abilities as a way to bring people together during a difficult time for the country.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, whom Pearlman has been studying for months in preparation for his performance, aiming to create a genuine, unscripted reaction that will captivate the audience.

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What they’re saying

“I'm all about creating very memorable moments that people talk about. If you distill what I try to do, it's that. It's not fooling you. It's going to create moments that are long-lasting.”

— Oz Pearlman, Mentalist

“I believe that right now, Weijia Jang, who picked me, and CBS, who made, I think, a very bold choice this year, somewhat unprecedented, just saw the landscape and said to themselves, 'I think what we need right now is something which in a difficult time for our country in a lot of ways, brings us together, is going to unite us.'”

— Oz Pearlman, Mentalist

What’s next

Pearlman's performance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner next week will be highly anticipated, as he aims to create a moment that will captivate the audience and potentially go down as a career-defining achievement.

The takeaway

By tapping a mentalist like Oz Pearlman to perform at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, the organizers are seeking to provide an experience that transcends political divides and brings people together through wonder and awe, rather than relying on divisive humor.