MSNBC host avoids addressing backlash to comments about 13-year-old cancer survivor featured in Trump speech

MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace avoided acknowledging the growing backlash she is facing for comments she made about the 13-year-old cancer survivor who was featured in President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress. 

Wallace was slammed for remarks in MSNBC's coverage of Trump's address inexplicably linking the young boy to Jan. 6 and the suicide of Capitol Police officers. 

On Wednesday's installment of "Deadline: White House," Wallace refrained from addressing the uproar. In fact, there was minimal coverage of Trump's address during her two-hour program. 

MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace avoided acknowledging the growing controversy over her comments about the 13-year-old brain cancer survivor featured in President Trump's address to Congress.  (Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Image)

13-YEAR-OLD CANCER SURVIVOR EARNS STANDING OVATION AS HE BECOMES SECRET SERVICE AGENT DURING TRUMP SPEECH

One of the most memorable moments from Trump's address was when he put a spotlight on teenager, DJ Daniel — an aspiring police officer who was told by doctors six years ago he had five months to live when he was first diagnosed with brain cancer. 

"Tonight, DJ, we're going to do you the biggest honor of them all," Trump said. "I am asking our new Secret Service Director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States."

The moment sparked a standing ovation from Republicans in the room while Democratic lawmakers remained seated. 

Devarjay "DJ" Daniel holds and honorary U.S. Secret Service special agent ID, presented to him by director of the U.S. Secret Service Sean Curran, right, as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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Wallace shared a grim response to her MSNBC colleagues. 

"But I think this was a lesson in finding one thing that you let yourself feel," Wallace said. "And I let myself feel joy about DJ, and I hope he’s alive for another, you know, 95 years, and I hope he lives the life he wants to live. He wants to be a cop. He knows what he wants to do, and maybe when you have childhood cancer, that crystallizes for you."

"I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer," she continued. "But I hope he never has to defend the United States Capitol against Donald Trump’s supporters, and if he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide, and I hope he isn’t one who has to testify against the people who carried out acts of seditious conspiracy and then lived to see Donald Trump pardon those people."

MSNBC hosts Rachel Maddow and Nicolle Wallace criticized President Donald Trump for featuring DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old cancer survivor, during his address Tuesday evening to a joint session of Congress. (MSNBC)

MSNBC HOSTS CALL TRUMP'S COMMENTS ON 13-YEAR-OLD CANCER SURVIVOR IN SPEECH ‘DISGUSTING’ POLITICAL MOVE

The comments ignited sharp condemnation across social media, even making their way to the White House.

"Last night, MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace disgustingly looped in a 13-year-old boy with brain cancer into an attack on the president over January 6," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during Wednesday's press briefing.

"It's sad and frankly pathetic that Democrats and liberals in the legacy media continue to allow their hatred for the president to override their love for our country," Leavitt later added.

Wallace was not the only network figure to chastise Trump for inviting Daniel to the chamber.

"For the record, and this is disgusting, the president made a spectacle out of praising a young man who thus far survived pediatric cancer, as if the president had something to do with that," MSNBC host Rachel Maddow said Tuesday night.

"This was in the midst of him praising [the Department of Government Efficiency]," Maddow continued. "The DOGE cuts, among other things, have cut off funding for ongoing research into pediatric cancer."

MSNBC did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

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