The White House Correspondents Association is swapping a comedy act for mindreading at this year’s dinner.
The WHCA said Thursday that mentalist Oz Pearlman, whose exploits have gone viral on TikTok and YouTube and have made him a frequent guest on channels like CNBC and Fox News, will be this year’s featured entertainer at the White House Correspondents Dinner.
“As the world’s most celebrated mentalist, Oz Pearlman will offer a fascinating glimpse into what’s truly on the minds of Washington’s newsmakers,” said CBS News correspondent Weijia Jiang, president of the association. “We look forward to an exciting, fresh, and interactive evening as we celebrate the First Amendment and Washington news coverage together.”
The WHCD, of course, is typically attended by the White House press corp and members of the administration, including the President of the United States. That being said, President Trump has not attended most of the dinners in his time in office, which shouldn’t be too surprising given the frequent sparring between the journalists that cover the White House and his administration.
Last year’s event was no exception, and in fact the WHCA had to cancel the planned appearance from comic Amber Ruffin, who had been targeted for criticism by the White House. Pearlman’s act is not about politics, but he does cater it to the audience, as his appearances on CNBC and in front of NFL teams show.
“I am thrilled to be the featured entertainer at this year’s WHCA dinner and join the ranks of Frank Sinatra, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien, among many other legends,” said Pearlman. “This is a rare opportunity to gather so many accomplished, perceptive people in one place and invite them to share moments of wonder, surprise and awe.”