President Donald Trump made a child with cancer an honorary Secret Service agent.
During his speech to Congress on Tuesday (March 4), Trump, 78, recognised Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a 13-year-old in the audience who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018 and was only given five months to live then.
Seated in the House gallery wearing a police officer’s uniform, DJ smiled proudly as his father lifted him up while Trump shared his inspiring story.
“He has always dreamed of becoming a police officer,” the President said. “But in 2018, DJ was diagnosed with brain cancer. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true.”
Over the years, DJ has been recognized by law enforcement agencies across the country, and the president took a moment to praise his resilience.
“And tonight, DJ, we’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all,” Trump said, building anticipation in the chamber. “I am asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States.”
Chants of “D-J! D-J!” erupted in the House chamber as Curran stepped forward, handing the teen what appeared to be a Secret Service credential.
The young cancer survivor, overwhelmed with emotion, waved it proudly for the crowd to see as his father lifted him up again. He then put his arms around Curran’s shoulders in a hug.
Following the emotional moment, Trump shifted his speech to praise law enforcement and reiterated his stance on crime.
He called for a “mandatory death penalty for anyone who murders a police officer,” arguing that officers should be able to “do their job without fear of their lives being totally destroyed,” per The New York Post.
Trump also commended Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his mission to “get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply and keep our children healthy and strong”.
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DJ Daniel high-fiving Jason Hartley on his admission into West Point is perfect pic.twitter.com/Ctw2yPYGjz
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) March 5, 2025
The night held another major surprise as the President announced that high school senior Jason Hartley had been accepted into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Trump recounted how Hartley, the son of a fallen Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, had dreamed of attending the prestigious academy.
“That’s a hard one to get into,” he remarked before delivering the news. “I’m pleased to inform you your application has been accepted.”
Hartley, who was caught completely off guard, embraced his mother and flashed a thumbs-up, as applause filled the chamber. He also turned around and high-fived DJ.
