During his first joint session speech to Congress, US President Donald Trump surprised the nation by bestowing on 13-year-old DJ Daniel, a Texas boy who has fought cancer for years, the honorary title of Secret Service agent.

While sitting in the gallery, Trump told the inspiring story of how the young boy was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer in 2018 and received only five months to live. But DJ beat the odds, battling the disease while maintaining his long-term wish to become a police officer.

"The doctors gave him five months at most to live," Trump said. "That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true."

Addressing DJ, Trump announced something special: "Tonight, DJ, 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 Secret Service."

The gallery burst into cheers, with a dozen more Democrats standing up to join Republicans in a celebration. With tears in his eyes, DJ's father hoisted him off the ground as the House gallery repeated his name: "DJ! DJ!"

The Secret Service Director, Curran, came up to the little boy soon afterward, handing him an official badge as the chanting continued. Elated, DJ hugged Curran and thanked him.

Then Trump shifted the discussion to his government's healthcare priorities, Democratic applause fizzled out. In protest, Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib held up a whiteboard inscribed with the words, "You cut cancer research," an expression of disappointment over Trump's budget choices.

At the same time, a Republican legislator yelled, "MAHA baby!"—a reference to Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan intended to highlight the president's healthcare position.

Paying tribute to Laken Riley

Trump also used the time to pay tribute to the family of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia student who was killed last year during a jog. An undocumented migrant from Venezuela had been convicted of her murder and sentenced to life without parole.

"Laken was stolen from us by a savage illegal alien gang member who was arrested while trespassing across (former President Joe) Biden's open southern border and then set loose into the United States under the heartless policies of that failed administration," Trump stated.

"America will never ever forget our beautiful Laken," he added, vowing to keep such tragedies from happening again. He also noted the Laken Riley Act, which he proposed after returning to office, that requires the detention of illegal migrants who are accused of certain crimes. Describing it as a "very strong, powerful act," Trump framed the bill as a pillar of his immigration crackdown.

You might also be interested in - "Charges us auto tariffs higher than 100%": Trump targets India, plans reciprocal tariffs from April 2