It takes a special kind of cynicism to look at a 13-year-old cancer survivor being honored by the President of the United States and think, Wow, this is disgusting. But leave it to Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s resident outrage machine, to deliver yet another take so off-base that it almost feels like satire.
After President Trump made DJ Daniel—who has battled brain and spine cancer since the age of six—an honorary Secret Service agent during his address to Congress, most Americans saw it for what it was: a touching moment celebrating a young fighter’s courage. Maddow, on the other hand, saw an opportunity to sneer. She called the moment “disgusting,” proving once again that, for the left, there’s no act of kindness that can’t be twisted into something nefarious if it comes from Trump.
Rachel Maddow is an evil witch.
She mocked DJ Daniel, the 13-year-old who has been fighting for his life, just because Trump made him an honorary USSS Agent.
MSNBC needs to issue corrective action immediately! pic.twitter.com/C4wPOE8GGG
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) March 5, 2025
DJ’s father, Theodis Daniel, wasn’t having it. When asked about Maddow’s comments, he didn’t mince words: “She needs to shut her mouth if she has nothing nice to say.” That about sums it up. He also pointed out that she has no room to be criticizing anyone, let alone a president honoring a child, saying, “This lady didn’t even serve time in the military. I was on the USS Kitty Hawk. She does not need to put her bad energy on us.” Translation: While Maddow sits in her cushy TV studio lobbing snarky comments at people she doesn’t understand, real Americans are actually out here living, sacrificing, and fighting for something bigger than themselves.
DJ’s story is one of perseverance. At just six years old, he was given five months to live. He’s now 13 and still fighting. His dream has always been to become a police officer, and over the years, law enforcement agencies from all over the country have recognized him as an honorary officer. So when Trump honored him as a Secret Service agent, it wasn’t just symbolic—it was a well-deserved moment for a kid who has shown more bravery in his young life than most people ever will.
I had the pleasure of showing DJ Daniel around the United States Capitol in December 2022.
Tonight, President Trump made him an honorary member of the Secret Service.
Congratulations, DJ! You make Texas proud.
pic.twitter.com/sbYSp4JHM1— Congressman Troy E. Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) March 5, 2025
But, of course, the left has a problem with this. Maddow and her crew can’t acknowledge the moment for what it was because they’re too blinded by their obsessive hatred of Trump. They can’t allow themselves to admit that he’s capable of empathy, of honoring a child without some sinister ulterior motive. So instead, they default to their usual routine: feigning outrage, manufacturing controversy, and hoping their audience is gullible enough to buy into it.
DJ’s family, however, doesn’t seem to care what the talking heads on MSNBC think. His father and aunt made it clear that they believe God has been looking out for him, guiding him through his battle, and surrounding him with the right people. And in this case, that included President Trump.
Moments like these should be beyond politics. Recognizing a child’s courage in the face of adversity should be a universally celebrated act, not something that gets dissected and sneered at by a cable news host desperate for relevance. But this is where we are now. The left is so consumed by their need to hate Trump that they’ll even take shots at a cancer survivor and his family if it means scoring a few cheap political points.
Meanwhile, DJ Daniel is still standing. He’s still fighting. And despite the negativity from Maddow and her ilk, his story remains one of hope, perseverance, and the American spirit. No amount of snark from MSNBC can change that.
