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Father of 13-year-old cancer survivor DJ Daniel — honored by Trump — calls out Rachel Maddow’s ‘bad energy’: ‘She needs to shut her mouth’
By Michael Kaplan
Published March 5, 2025, 6:48 p.m. ET
2.2K Comments
2.2K Comments
The father of Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel — the 13-year-old cancer survivor who was made an honorary US Secret Service agentduring President Trump’s congressional address Tuesday — has no patience for Rachel Maddow undermining his son’s moment.
“She needs to shut her mouth if she has nothing nice to say,” Theodis Daniel told The Post of the MSNBC anchor, who declared Trump “disgusting” for calling out DJand his cancer battle.
“This lady didn’t even serve time in the military,” he added. “I was on the USS Kitty Hawk. She does not need to put her bad energy on us.”
DJ stole hearts and inspired a nation when the young Texan was made an honorary US Secret Service agent by Director Sean Curran.
Theodis Daniel and son Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel were welcomed to Washington, DC, for President Trump’s congressional address Tuesday — and to the White House Wednesday.
Demitra Johnson with her cancer warrior son, Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel.
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“The White House reached out to us and said that President Trump wants to meet Devarjaye,” Theodis Daniel told The Post. “They flew us out and FBI agents picked us up at the airport.”
After being sworn in and meeting border czar Tom Homan, DJ and his dad were escorted to prime seats for Trump’s speech.
“We sat next to Mr. Elon [Musk], the first lady was in front of us and [FBI Director] Kash Patel was at my son’s right shoulder,” said Theodis, a 47-year-old former machinist’s mate and fireman with the Navy. “The first lady was nice, sweet, down to earth. Mr. Elon shook hands with us.”
Theodis Daniel, DJ Daniel and border czar Tom Homan hung out together at President Trump’s congressional address.
DJ Daniel, freshly sworn in as an honorary Secret Service agent, got a boost from his dad Tuesday. AP
While the Daniel family’s friends and relatives were surprised to hear DJ being favorably singled out by the president — who called him “a young man who truly loves our police” — they were not shocked. According to Theodis, the Secret Service induction marked the young teen’s 909th swearing-in as an honorary law enforcer.
“I thought it was awesome for my nephew. He deserves it,” DJ’s aunt Jane Daniel told The Post of the accolades from Trump. “I think that such an honor will help him to reach his goals. If you can accomplish this, you can accomplish anything.”
DJ received his shocking brain cancer diagnosis in September 2018, when he was 6 years old. The Daniel family had just moved from San Antonio to Houston, and he and his two siblings were getting ready to enroll in new schools.
DJ Daniel shared the love with DC as his proud papa looked on. AP
“His body stiffened and suddenly he was foaming at the mouth,” his mother, Demitra Johnson, told The Post. “We rushed him to the hospital.”
A CAT scan revealed Stage 3 brain cancer and, as Theodis recalled, “a tumor the size of a lemon.”
“I was crying; I remember yelling at his dad to do something,” said Demitra, a restaurant manager who is separated from Theodis. “I thought he could fix it.”
At the time, DJ was given just five months to live. It’s now been more than six years and, while he still has terminal cancer, it is being continually treated.
Each surgery has changed DJ’s personality a little bit, said his mom, though she views it in the best way possible: “I feel like he’s been born 13 times. He’s so strong and has a heart of gold.”
President Trump, during his congressional address, described DJ Daniel as “a young man who loves the police.”
Before his diagnosis, DJ — inspired by the good work of the Houston PD during Hurricane Harvey — had already decided he wanted to be a police officer when he grows up.
Theodis didn’t want to make his son wait for his dream, so he arranged for DJ to besworn in as an honorary officerwith the police department of Brookshire, Texas, in 2019. The then-6-year-old received a uniform and a 10-gallon hat.
“Two years later I called the Texas state troopers to see if they would come out for Devarjaye’s ninth birthday and we had a swarm of police officers,” said Theodis. “The officers swore him in and it grew from there. Suddenly everyone wanted to have him in.”
On Tuesday, Trump announced, “We’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all. I am asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States.”
Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel got a hug from Secret Service Director Sean Curran.
“He takes a lot of pride in being made a police officer,” said Theodis. “The other officers bring him camaraderie and confidence.”
But Theodis, whovisited the White House with his son on Wednesday,was not thrilled by Democratic lawmakers heckling the president’s speech.“When [Rep.] Al Green [D-Texas] stood up and made that ruckus, I was disgusted,” he said. “What kind of message is he sending?”
Rachel Maddow declared Trump “disgusting” for calling out DJ and his cancer battle.
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Still, DJ’s family will not let that get in the way of their positivity.
“Devarjaye has overcome the odds,” marveled his aunt Jane. “It’s all in who you are inside. I think God has given a tough battle to a good one. I believe that God is looking out for him and making sure that the right hands are touching him.”
Filed under cancer congress donald trump secret service 3/5/25
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