Senator John Fetterman, D-PA. This week, he defeated his party and criticised fellow Democrats for not standing with 13-year-old cancer survivor DJ Daniel during his speech to President Donald Trump's joint session of Congress.
“I don't know why we can't celebrate completely,” Fetterman told Nicholas Barasy of Fox News Digital. “I mean, I'm 13-year-old myself and I'm grateful that she's never had cancer, but I think it's something we all can celebrate there. And I think it was an emotional moment. And like I said, it's some of America's best experiences.”
Fox News Digital reached out to 30 Democrats about whether they didn't support the DJ on Tuesday night but only received six responses.
Fetterman also said in a post on X that Democrats' inaction “just seem to be more of a presidential and more restrained Trump.”
Some Democrats said their feelings about Trump were the reason they didn't support the DJ.
“You know, it's very individualistic. And, as I think, is there so many other things we can focus on?” D-Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono said when asked why Democrats didn't support DJs. “The word betrayal comes to mind when it comes to the president.”
Senator Jack Reid, a ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: And frankly, I think he generally showed that he respected the office. ”
D-Vt. Sen. Peter Welch of the group said it was “a moving story,” but “The thing that excluded Trump, of course, is that he is cutting off cancer research.
“Our minds are at the Riley family about the loss of their daughter and inspired the Devarjaye'DJ's story. D-Texas Rep. Mark Visy told Fox News Digital.
D-Mich. Debbie Dingell of the group said she was “applause and touched – not rolling my eyes.”
“After Secret Service gave him him [badge] And he went back and sat down, then he went back and hugged the chief of the secret service, which made me cry. There were tears. I was wiped away some weird tears,” Dingel said.
Republican lawmakers criticized their Democratic colleagues for staying seated in a big DJ moment, calling their refusal to support the boy “childish.”
“The Democrats really felt embarrassed themselves,” Sen. Eric Schmidt of R-Mo told Fox.
“I was so disappointed because my Democrat colleagues couldn't stand it and couldn't show love to some of the Americans recognized tonight,” said Sen. Katie Britt of R-Ala.
Despite the lukewarm response from Democrats, the erupted in the home room Tuesday night as Trump instructed Secret Service Director Sean Curran to designate an honorary Secret Service agent, 13, despite the “DJ!” hymn.
DJ's father, Theodis, puts the DJ over his shoulder as the boy showed off his new badge in his room.
“To join tonight's gallery is a young man who really loves our police. His name is DJ Daniel. He is 13 years old. He has always dreamed of becoming a police officer. However, in 2018, DJ was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The doctor gave him the best five months. It was over six years ago. Since then, DJ and his father have been exploring his dreams to make him come true, and DJ is sworn as an honorary law enforcement officer,” Trump said.
“Tonight, DJ, we're giving you the greatest honor of all of them. We're asking new Secret Service Director Sean Curran to represent the Secret Service in the United States.”
