During his address to Congress, former President Donald Trump recognized a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor, DJ Daniel, making him an honorary Secret Service agent. This gesture elicited varied responses, with some praising Trump's compassion and others questioning his motivations.

Several commentators on social media, including Ric Grennell and Clay Travis, criticized Democrats who appeared not to applaud or stand for Daniel. They characterized this as disrespectful to the young boy and indicative of a larger problem within the Democratic party.

Conversely, Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator John McCain who also died of brain cancer, expressed being moved by the moment. She emphasized the significance of the gesture for those impacted by the disease. Others, like Kyle Kulinski, viewed the act as exploitative, suggesting Trump used the child as a political prop.

Trump's speech also saw protests from some Democrats, including Rep. Al Green who was removed from the House chamber. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Sen. Bernie Sanders also left the speech early. These actions added to the already charged atmosphere surrounding the event.