 "DJ Daniels, a 13-year-old from Texas, was diagnosed with rare cancer in 2018. Reuters")
US President Donald Trump addressed his first joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
In a touching moment during the session, he named 13-year-old DJ Daniels, a cancer survivor, an honorary Secret Service agent.
As the chamber burst into applause in a rare display of solidarity, he also praised the boy for his will, grit, and determination.
Here’s all we know about the young boy.
Who is DJ Daniels?
Devarjaye “DJ” Daniels, a 13-year-old from Texas, was diagnosed with rare cancer in 2018.
He was on Capitol Hill yesterday as Trump spoke to the joint session of Congress.
As DJ, who was seen wearing his Houston Police Department uniform, sat in the gallery, Trump revealed that despite all the obstacles, the teenager persisted in his dream of becoming a police officer.
“The doctors gave him five months at most to live. 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,” Trump said. “Tonight, DJ we’re going to do you the biggest honour of them all. I am asking our new Secret Service Director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States Secret Service.”
As the House gallery chanted his name, his father, overtaken with passion, raised DJ into the air, saying, “DJ! DJ!” Then, as the applause continued, Secret Service Director Curran came up to the young kid and gave him an official badge.
Trump said, “This young man is ecstatic to be here,” as lawmakers and guests applauded. More than a dozen Democrats stood up to celebrate DJ with Republicans in a rare show of solidarity.
Currently, DJ is trying to get sworn into as many police enforcement departments as he can.
The teenager was sworn in as an honorary officer of the Rice University Police Department in February 2022.
He was given a key to the city and made an honorary Jasper police officer in December 2024.
As per a press release from Rice University, DJ’s main goals are to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to commemorate the life of Abigail Arias, a seven-year-old girl who was sworn in as an honorary officer of the Freeport Police Department before she passed away from lung cancer in 2019.
Despite DJ’s initial goal of being sworn in by 100 law enforcement agencies, he became an honorary member of 230 agencies by 2022 as his narrative gained more public support.
Jason Hartley, a senior in high school, was also recognised by President Trump, who confirmed his entrance into the US Military Academy at West Point.
Also read: Ukraine, immigration and more: What to expect from Donald Trump’s big Congress speech
With inputs from agencies