MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow under fire after Trump slams ‘disgraceful’ comments about teen cancer survivor—calls for resignations explode across social media

Donald Trump blasted MSNBC stars Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow as ‘disgraceful’ for politicizing a 13-year-old boy’s cancer story
The president honored DJ Daniel during a speech—only to face backlash from pundits hours later
Wallace linked the boy’s dream of becoming a cop to January 6 suicide cases, Maddow called the tribute ‘disgusting’
Karoline Leavitt, Meghan McCain, and millions of viewers are demanding accountability—MSNBC remains silent

What should have been a rare moment of unity—a president honoring a teenage cancer survivor who beat every odd—has now spiraled into a full-blown media storm, with two of MSNBC’s top stars at the center of it.

This week, President Donald Trump honored 13-year-old Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a terminal brain cancer patient who has survived six years and dreamed of joining law enforcement. Trump made him an honorary Secret Service member during his congressional address—a gesture widely seen as nonpartisan and deeply emotional.

But within hours, MSNBC anchors Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow turned that moment into one of the most explosive cultural flashpoints of the week—sparking a firestorm of criticism, calls for their resignation, and an official response from the Oval Office itself.

Donald Trump dramatically declared on Thursday that Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow and should be forced to resign for their comments about a teenage cancer survivor

‘I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer – but I hope he never has to defend the United States capitol against Donald Trump ‘s supporters,’ Nicolle Wallace said of cancer-stricken Devarjaye ‘DJ’ Daniel two days ago, before taking it a step further

The moment that should’ve united—and the reaction that divided

During his address to Congress, Trump praised DJ, who has undergone 13 surgeries in his fight against brain and spinal cancer.

“He’s always dreamed of becoming a police officer,” Trump said. “And tonight, DJ, we’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all.”

DJ was hoisted into the chamber by his father, holding his Secret Service badge while Republicans in the gallery chanted his name.

But MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace wasn’t impressed.

‘And tonight, DJ, we’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all.’

Maddow also got in on the action, branding Trump ‘disgusting’ for shining a light on Daniel’s battle

Daniel, meanwhile, was held up by his father during the ceremony – after dreaming of one day being a police officer while fighting cancer for the past six years

‘America is back!’ Watch highlights of Trump’s speech to Congress

Hours later,  Wallace and Maddow would weigh in – and instead of relishing the moment, the former went negative on the gesture.

Wallace brings up January 6—and suicide

Speaking to Rachel Maddow and Jen Psaki just hours later, Wallace delivered a series of remarks that left viewers stunned.

“I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer—but I hope he never has to defend the Capitol against Donald Trump’s supporters,” she said.

And then, she added:

“If he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide.”

The comment sent shockwaves across platforms like X, where critics accused Wallace of weaponizing a child’s cancer survival story for political gain.

Maddow doubles down—calls the tribute ‘disgusting’

Rachel Maddow, meanwhile, followed Wallace’s lead—accusing Trump of using DJ as a political prop, while slamming him for “cutting funding” for cancer research.

“This is disgusting,” Maddow said on air. “The president made a spectacle out of praising a young man who’s survived pediatric cancer—as if he had something to do with that.”

She pointed to cuts allegedly tied to Trump’s health policies, particularly in DEI-related government grants.

But viewers weren’t buying it.

Trump erupts: ‘They should be forced to resign’

Two days after the broadcast, President Trump responded directly from the Oval Office.

“What Nicolle Wallace said—disgraceful,” he told reporters. “She should be forced to resign.”

He continued:

“Rachel Maddow? Nobody watches her anymore. But what she said was shameful. They both owe that family an apology.”

He added that both anchors had “lost all credibility” and claimed Maddow’s salary—reportedly $5 million—was “impossible to justify.”

“They’ve lost trust, they’ve lost viewers—and they’ve lost the moral high ground,” he said.

‘I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer – but I hope he never has to defend the United States capitol against Donald Trump‘s supporters,’ she claimed, then taking it a step further.

White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, 27, blasted MSNBC’s Wallace for her comments on Thursday, after a storm of criticism surfaced on platforms like X

Karoline Leavitt says dems acted ‘disgraceful’ during Trumps speech

‘And if he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide,’ she declared – eliciting a storm of replies on platforms like X.

Leavitt and McCain join the backlash

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed Trump’s remarks, calling Wallace’s comment “beneath even cable news.”

“Attacking a 13-year-old cancer survivor to take a jab at the president? That’s not journalism. That’s cruelty,” Leavitt said.

Meghan McCain also joined the pile-on, writing:

“There are many ways to criticize Trump. But bringing a sick child into a January 6 suicide narrative? I can’t defend that. At all.”

Media fallout—and MSNBC’s silence

As of Friday, MSNBC has not issued a formal comment on the controversy.

Several outlets that initially praised Wallace’s and Maddow’s coverage have since gone quiet. The Washington Post reworded a headline about Wallace’s remarks. The Atlantic removed its tweet quoting Maddow’s “disgusting” statement.

But viewers aren’t letting go.

#FireWallace and #MaddowOut began trending late Thursday night. Clips of Wallace’s suicide reference have been reshared over 3 million times.

“No one is saying you have to like Trump,” one user wrote. “But leave DJ Daniel out of your narrative.”

The boy at the center—DJ Daniel’s legacy continues

DJ Daniel—nicknamed “DJ” by those who know him—has become a symbol of strength over the past six years.

Diagnosed at age seven, he’s now undergone more than a dozen surgeries while helping raise awareness about childhood cancer.

His dream of being sworn into multiple law enforcement agencies has taken him across the country—and on Tuesday, to the floor of Congress.

“The doctors gave him five months,” Trump said. “That was six years ago.”

Despite the political noise, DJ’s family has not spoken publicly about the MSNBC backlash. His father, who helped lift him during the ceremony, said only:

“DJ’s mission is about love, service, and strength. That’s what we’re focused on.”

Roughly 15,000 children are diagnosed with the disease every year, out of roughly 2million overall.

Cases of pediatric cancer have risen in recent years, but treatments have improved, leading to a decline in deaths from the disease.

Final word: political attacks—or personal line crossed?

For critics of MSNBC, this moment wasn’t just tone-deaf—it was proof that even a child’s fight against cancer isn’t safe from political commentary.

Supporters of Wallace and Maddow insist the remarks were aimed at policy hypocrisy—not at DJ himself.

But the public appears to have made up its mind.

“It was supposed to be a moment of hope,” one columnist wrote. “And they turned it into something else.”

As the calls for resignation continue to build, one thing is clear: what was said can’t be unsaid—and the silence from MSNBC may be speaking loudest of all.