A young boy battling brain cancer who stole the hearts of the nation when President Trump made him an honorary Secret Service member has developed more tumors, his family has said.
Devarjaye ‘DJ’ Daniel, 13, was introduced to a global audience when Trump singled him out during his State of the Union address earlier this year and gave him the honor.
The youngster has been battling cancer for six years after being diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of incurable brain and spine cancer. He was told at the time he only had five months to live.
His father Theodis Daniel revealed the heartbreaking update to Fox7 earlier this month, saying: ‘He does have three new tumors.
‘It’s rough, there isn’t a class that can teach you how to deal with it. You’re hearing that your child has a nasty disease.
‘We’re just going around showing people, hey, you do care for one another. Let’s give compassion and let’s try to join and help each other get through things.’
The youngster has been trying to get sworn in to as many law enforcement agencies as possible as he and his family try to raise awareness about his condition.
Devarjaye ‘DJ’ Daniel, 13, was introduced to a global audience when Trump singled him out during his State of the Union address earlier this year
DJ is seen here embracing President Trump inside the Oval Office after he was made an honorary Secret Service member
His father spoke after Daniel became an honorary member of multiple law enforcement agencies in Williamson County, Texas.
The sheriff’s office in the county was his 1,351st swearing in, with his journey leading him to be sworn in across six other countries.
Theodis added: ‘Look at him, he’s happy, vibrant. I never know what’s going to come out of his mouth. It makes me nervous half the time, because he has jokes.’
Introducing Daniel, Trump had said: ‘Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police.
‘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.’
Daniels was held up by his father for the touching moment as he received his badge from Director Sean Curran and Republicans in the House gallery chanted ‘DJ’.
The next day Daniel and his family joined Trump in the Oval Office, with the youngster sharing a hug with the president.
‘That was a big evening last night,’ Trump said to them as he shook Daniel’s father’s hand.
Former DOGE chief Elon Musk had also promised the boy his own Cybertruck after he was honored.
Speaking with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins outside of the White House after his appointment, Daniel revealed he had bumped into the Tesla CEO and X boss.
He said: ‘I said, “can you do me a big favor, when you get back to Houston can you send us a Cybertruck down there”.’
Collins then asks him: ‘Did Elon Musk say he’d send you a Tesla Cybertruck?’, to which the youngster responded: ‘Mmmmhmm’.
Sharing the short exchange to her X, Musk later responded to the clip with a love heart emoji, suggesting the boy’s wish for the vehicle could well be granted.
Earlier this month the youngster was also sworn in as a honorary ICE and Border Patrol Agent by Deputy Director Madison Sheahan.
