In an exclusive sit-down interview with KHOU 11 News Reporter Orko Manna, DJ Daniel and his father talked about their reaction to President Trump’s huge surprise.
HOUSTON — 13-year-old DJ Daniel is back home in Houston after receiving a once-in-a-lifetime honor in Washington, D.C. — becoming an honorary Secret Service agent.
DJ, who is battling brain and spine cancer, was recently invited by President Donald Trump to attend his joint address to Congress.
During the address, the president introduced DJ to the world.
“Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police. His name is DJ Daniel. He is 13 years old,” President Trump said.
Then, in a moment that left DJ stunned, the head of the Secret Service presented him with an official badge, signifying his status as an honorary Secret Service agent.
“I was surprised. I’m not going to lie. My jaw dropped to the ground,” DJ said. “I was just standing and looking at Mr. Trump, and then out of nowhere, a gentleman tapped me and gave me the badge. I was looking at it.”
For years, DJ has pursued his dream of becoming a police officer. Despite his diagnosis, he has been sworn in by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country.
“After I reach 1,000, I’m just going to keep going,” he said. “Like I always say, I’m going to keep on going until my gas tank runs out.”
Now, with the Secret Service badge in hand, he joked about his new role:
“I’m a Secret Service agent now. If somebody touches me, they’re going straight to jail!”
DJ also got to meet President Trump in the Oval Office, where he received three signed hats.
“He told me I could sell them on eBay. I said, I’m not selling nothing,” he said.
DJ’s father, Theodis, said he got the call inviting DJ to the joint address only a few days before it happened. Then, seeing his son accept the Secret Service badge was something beyond Theodis’ imagination.
“I never thought it would get to that degree,” Theodis said.
Some critics have said that they believe President Trump was using DJ as a political tool, but Theodis refuted that, saying there is nothing political about celebrating a young boy and encouraging him to reach his goals.
“It wasn’t done under the regards of a political party deal. That’s not what that was. I would not have came if it was that. This was a genuine gesture that was done,” Theodis said.
The word “genuine” is also what Theodis used to describe congressman and former Houston mayor Sylvester Turner. Turner, who passed away Wednesday, was on the same flight as Theodis and DJ on their way to Washington, D.C. for President Trump’s address.
“We want to send condolences out to Mayor Turner, Congressman Turner. We were on the plane with him on the way over there. He was sitting right in front of us. So, it was a total shock to us, and we want to keep their family in our prayers,” Theodis said.
Theodis also said that during President Trump’s speech, he and Turner shared a brief moment from across the room.
“I saw him snatch his glasses off. He looked up and did me like that and I looked back at him, pointing and laughing,” Theodis said.
During their time in the White House, DJ took several photos by himself, with law enforcement — and even one with Elon Musk. Theodis said DJ and Musk bumped into each other in a hallway. DJ said that he had then made a comment about wanting to ride in a Cybertruck. A few days later, Theodis said he got a message saying Tesla was sending a Cybertruck to their home in Houston!
DJ said every single moment of his trip to the nation’s capitol, and the outpouring of support following it, has meant the world to him. He wanted to use his platform to share a powerful message:
“If you got cancer, don’t give up on life,” DJ said. “All you got to do is pray, believe in God and just keep that negative energy out of your mind.”