A moment intended to inspire hope at President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday has instead ignited controversy online, with many criticizing Democratic lawmakers for remaining seated while a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor was honored and made an honorary Secret Service agent, Fox News reports.
The gesture, which saw the young boy recognized by the president, drew a standing ovation from many in the chamber. However, the visible lack of response from some Democratic members quickly sparked outrage on social media, with users accusing them of being insensitive and callous.
“A terminally ill child with brain cancer is given an honorary Secret Service award and the Democrats refuse to stand or clap for the child,” Trump administration official Ric Grennell tweeted, encapsulating the sentiment of many critics.
Similar posts circulated widely, with commentators like Outkick founder Clay Travis, Republican activist Scott Pressler, and Libs of TikTok expressing similar disapproval.
New York Post columnist Miranda Devine also weighed in, sarcastically lamenting the perceived lack of applause for “a little boy with brain cancer.”
Conversely, others praised the moment and its emotional impact. Meghan McCain, whose father, the late Senator John McCain, succumbed to brain cancer in 2018, shared her emotional reaction:
“This is the first time I can remember crying during a state of the union. Thank you President Trump. This is so beautiful. Anyone who has been impacted by brain cancer knows how special this is.”
However, some defended the Democrats’ seated response, suggesting that the moment was being exploited for political gain.
“Trump is using a kid who had brain cancer as a prop. He wants to be a cop so he made him an honorary member of the secret service,” liberal commentator Kyle Kulinski wrote on X.
The incident adds another layer to the already contentious atmosphere surrounding Trump’s address. Earlier in the evening, some Democrats staged protests, leading to the removal of Representative Al Green (D-TX) from the chamber. Representatives Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also reportedly left the speech early.
