When Donald Trump honored 13-year-old DJ Daniels, a brain cancer patient, during his speech to Congress, MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace faced backlash for mentioning “suicide” in relation to the boy. DJ, diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018, still dreams of becoming a police officer. Trump recognized DJ by swearing him in as an honorary Secret Service agent, a moment that received cheers from Republicans in the House gallery.
While many praised Trump’s gesture, Wallace critiqued it, shifting her thoughts to the darker realities of childhood cancer. She controversially referenced the Capitol riots and suicide, hoping DJ wouldn’t have to face such horrors in his future career. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow also criticized Trump for using DJ as a political prop. Their comments sparked outrage online, with many calling for Wallace’s firing for her remarks.