Karoline Leavitt’s Fiery Response to Controversial Comments on Teen Cancer Survivor

A Touching Tribute Turns Contentious

The U.S. Capitol’s House Chamber became the backdrop for a deeply emotional moment during President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress. Among the highlights of the evening was the recognition of 13-year-old Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a Texas teenager who has been battling brain cancer since 2018. Diagnosed at the age of six with a rare and terminal form of brain and spine cancer, DJ was given just five months to live. Defying the odds, he has survived for over six years, undergoing 13 brain surgeries while holding fast to his dream of becoming a police officer. During the speech, Trump honored DJ by naming him an honorary Secret Service agent, a gesture that brought the chamber to its feet with chants of “DJ!” and moved many to tears.

DJ, dressed in a Houston police uniform, sat in the gallery with his father, who lifted him into the air as Secret Service Director Sean Curran presented him with a customized badge. Trump praised DJ’s resilience, noting, “He has always dreamed of becoming a police officer. The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago. Since then, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true.” The moment was a rare instance of unity in a politically charged setting, with Republicans and some Democrats giving DJ a standing ovation. However, the heartwarming tribute quickly became a lightning rod for controversy, drawing sharp criticism from media figures and prompting a fierce response from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Controversial Commentary Sparks Outrage

The controversy erupted shortly after Trump’s speech when MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace commented on DJ’s recognition during her broadcast. Wallace, known for her critical stance on Trump, framed the tribute in a way that many found jarring. “I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer, but I hope he never has to defend the United States Capitol against Donald Trump’s supporters, and if he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide,” she said. Her remarks referenced the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and the tragic suicides of four police officers who responded to the event, a sensitive topic that felt out of place in the context of honoring a young cancer survivor.

Wallace’s comments were not isolated. Fellow MSNBC host Rachel Maddow also criticized the moment, calling it “disgusting” that Trump highlighted DJ’s story. “The president made a spectacle out of praising a young man who thus far survived pediatric cancer, as if the president had something to do with that,” Maddow said, linking the tribute to Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, which she claimed cut funding for pediatric cancer research. On Morning Joe, co-host Joe Scarborough dismissed Trump’s speech as “full of so much nonsense,” further fueling the backlash against the media’s response to DJ’s moment.

Social media platforms like X erupted with reactions, with many users slamming Wallace and Maddow for politicizing a child’s story. The sentiment was echoed by public figures, including former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, who posted, “If the Ds can’t clap for a beautiful 13-year-old boy who wants to become a cop, there’s something really wrong with them.” The controversy reached a boiling point when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stepped into the fray, delivering a scathing rebuke during her press briefing on March 5, 2025.

Leavitt’s Blistering Response

At just 27 years old, Karoline Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in U.S. history, has quickly established herself as a fierce defender of the Trump administration. During her briefing, she didn’t hold back in addressing the media’s reaction to DJ’s recognition. Holding up a printed CBS/YouGov poll showing that 76% of Americans approved of Trump’s speech, Leavitt turned her attention to Wallace’s remarks. “The mainstream media still doesn’t get it,” she said, her voice steady but charged with indignation. “Last night, MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace disgustingly looped in a 13-year-old boy with brain cancer into an attack on the president over January 6.”

Leavitt’s criticism extended beyond Wallace to the broader media landscape and Democratic lawmakers, whom she accused of failing to celebrate America’s stories. “It’s sad and frankly pathetic that Democrats and liberals in the legacy media continue to allow their hatred for the president to override their love for our country,” she added. She pointed out that some Democrats in the chamber refused to stand for DJ, as well as for other Americans highlighted in Trump’s speech, such as victims of crime and families affected by the Afghanistan withdrawal. Leavitt framed their behavior as emblematic of a deeper disconnect, calling Democrats “the party of insanity and hate” and accusing them of prioritizing political point-scoring over unity.

Leavitt’s remarks resonated with conservatives, who saw her as a voice for those frustrated by what they perceive as the media’s relentless negativity. Her comments also amplified calls for Wallace and Maddow to be fired, a sentiment Trump himself echoed on March 7 from the Oval Office. “Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow should be forced to resign for their comments about a teenage cancer survivor,” Trump declared, describing their remarks as “disgraceful.” The controversy became a rallying point for Trump’s supporters, who viewed the media’s response as yet another example of bias against the president and his agenda.

A Broader Cultural Divide

The clash over DJ Daniel’s recognition is more than a media spat—it’s a microcosm of the broader cultural and political divides in America. For conservatives, DJ’s story and the subsequent backlash highlight what they see as the left’s inability to set aside partisanship, even for a universally inspiring moment. DJ’s journey, marked by his determination to become a police officer despite his prognosis, has resonated deeply with law enforcement communities. Since 2019, he has been sworn in as an honorary member of over 871 police departments, a testament to his impact. Local sheriffs, like those in Nelson County, Virginia, have sent him badges and messages of support, with one noting, “DJ, your courage and positivity are an inspiration to us all.”

On the other hand, critics of Trump, including Wallace and Maddow, argue that the president’s use of DJ’s story was a calculated move to bolster his image, especially amid policies they claim undermine public health, such as cuts to pediatric cancer research. Their comments, while poorly received, reflect a skepticism of Trump’s motives that has persisted since his first term. This skepticism, however, clashed with the public’s emotional response to DJ’s story, as evidenced by the widespread approval of Trump’s speech in polls.

The Lasting Impact of DJ’s Moment

The controversy surrounding DJ Daniel’s recognition has had lasting effects. For DJ and his family, the moment was a dream fulfilled, culminating in a visit to the Oval Office to thank Trump personally. In a video message shared by the White House, DJ expressed his gratitude: “I had thirteen brain surgeries, and every time my personality has changed. I would like to thank President Trump, because if it wasn’t him, I wouldn’t have been here today.” His story has also drawn attention to the rising rates of childhood cancer, with Trump announcing the creation of a Presidential Commission to Make America Healthy Again to address environmental toxins.

For Karoline Leavitt, the incident has solidified her reputation as a formidable press secretary unafraid to confront the media head-on. Her response has been praised by conservatives as a necessary pushback against what they see as media overreach, while critics argue it further polarizes an already divided discourse. The clash also underscores the challenges of navigating public narratives in a hyper-partisan era, where even a child’s triumph can become a battleground.

Ultimately, the story of DJ Daniel and the reaction it provoked reveal the complexities of America’s political landscape in 2025. It’s a reminder that while moments of unity are possible, they are often fleeting, quickly overshadowed by the deeper tensions that define the nation’s dialogue.