By Steve Neavling
President Donald Trump turned the spotlight on 13-year-old Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a boy battling brain cancer who has long dreamed of becoming a police officer.
During his address, Trump made DJ an honorary member of the U.S. Secret Service, ABC News reports.
“Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police,” Trump said after commending law enforcement officers.
Doctors diagnosed DJ with brain cancer in 2018 and gave him no more than five months to live.
“That was more than six years ago,” Trump said. “Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true.”
Trump then turned to DJ directly.
“And tonight, DJ, we’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all. I am asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States.”
Over the years, DJ has been sworn in as an honorary officer at police departments across the country.
As Trump made the announcement, DJ appeared stunned before his father lifted him for the crowd to see. Holding up his new certificate, DJ was met with applause and cheers.
In a rare show of bipartisan support, Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., stood and joined in the applause.
After the tribute, Trump shifted to the issue of childhood cancer, calling on newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to “get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply and keep our children healthy and strong.”
