MSNBC's Nicole Wallace slammed for comments on young cancer survivor DJ Daniel amid dropping ratings

WASHINGTON, DC: MSNBC host Nicole Wallace is facing backlash on social media for her comments on Devarjaye 'DJ' Daniel, a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor who was featured in President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress on March 4, reported the New York Post.

This comes at the heels of the former communications director for president George W Bush battling a drop in her ratings, which began when Democrats lost the 2024 election.

As per Nielsen, Wallace's show on MSNBC lost 35% of viewers after November 5, 2024, bringing the number from 1.6 million to just over 1 million. Among the key demographic of adults aged between 25 to 54, the number dwindled from 144,000 viewers to 93,000.

However, there has been a silver lining in recent times, as Wallace's show 'Deadline: White House' saw a 38% increase in viewership after Trump took Office on January 20. From the inauguration week to the beginning of March, it increased by 14%.

Nicole Wallace's controversial statement on DJ Daniel

During his address to Congress, Donald Trump honored DJ Daniel, who aspires to be a police officer, by making him a US agent. In her analysis of the incident, Nicole Wallace drew a connection between the child and the Capitol riots of January 6, 2021.

“I let myself feel joy about DJ, and I hope he’s alive for another, you know, 95 years, and I hope he lives the life he wants to live. He wants to be a cop. He knows what he wants to do, and maybe when you have childhood cancer, that crystallizes for you,” she 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, and if he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide, and I hope he isn’t one who has to testify against the people who carried out acts of seditious conspiracy and then lived to see Donald Trump pardon those people," she added in a much graver tone.

Wallace's comments reportedly surprised her network colleague Rachel Maddow, who went on to slam the POTUS for using Daniel's struggle to score political points.

"For the record — and this is disgusting — the president made a spectacle out of praising a young man who’s thus far survived pediatric cancer — as if the president had something to do with that,” she stated.

Internet calls for Nicole Wallace to be fired

Netizens reacting to Nicole Wallace's comments slammed her on the social media platform X. The following tweets demonstrate their takes.

"She should be fired," wrote a user.

"Why is she still on the air?" asked another.

"This was so out-of-pocket. She should be terminated," noted one user.

"Time for MSNBC to close shop," jibed someone else.

"That was disgraceful," shared another individual.

"She should be banned from ever being on media," demanded a user.

"What a shame," expressed yet another.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.