Democrats double down on ignoring child with cancer at joint session

A pair of Democrats doubled down Wednesday on their decision to avoid bipartisan celebrations at the joint session of Congress on Tuesday, particularly when President Trump recognized a 13-year-old boy who survived brain cancer.

Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania said there were “no bipartisan moments” during the address and that the country is looking at a “fascist takeover.” She added that nothing can be done when the president and his fellow Republicans are involved in a “power grab” by “people who do not care about the rule of law and who do not care about the checks and balances.”

Also at the U.S. Capitol a day after the address, Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois said the American people saw only “theatrics” from Mr. Trump.

“I think folks from their own seats clapped, and many times, certainly for Laken Riley and for others there,” Ms. Ramirez said. “But to stand up to someone who has demonstrated that he wants to be king, while it could have been for them, but (it would have been like) standing with Donald Trump and we just could not stand to do that.”

Ms. Ramirez noted that she thought it was hypocritical of the president to acknowledge Devarjay “D.J.” Daniel.

“This is the same guy that’s actually defunding cancer research. It’s like the dissonance in that moment is so real,” she said. “You’re actually putting a young, little Black boy who is a cancer survivor in front of you as you’re saying, ’And I’m going to defund cancer research,’ is so hypocritical.”

Republicans criticized Democrats for also not acknowledging other guests in the chamber that Mr. Trump recognized:

• Marc Fogel, who was taken prisoner by Russia in 2021 and released in a deal Mr. Trump made shortly after taking office.

• Alexis Nungaray, the mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, the victim in a brutal killing near Houston, Texas, in which two illegal immigrants from Venezuela are charged with capital murder.

• Allyson and Lauren Philips, the mother and sister of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant gang member from Venezuela.

Only about a dozen Democrats joined Republicans in a standing ovation for Devarjay and his father. Mr. Trump said the youngster wants to become a police officer one day.

Mr. Trump announced the child would be sworn in by new Secret Service Director Sean Curran as a member of the force.

The boy was held up by his father as GOP lawmakers and attendees in the House gallery chanted “D.J.”