President Donald Trump reemphasized his commitment to reducing dangerous chemical exposures during his address to Congress on Tuesday night. But his conclusions are based on shaky science, according to researchers.
During his address to Congress, Trump spotlighted Devarjaye “D.J.” Daniel, a 13-year-old from Houston who was diagnosed with a form of brain and spinal cancer.
“D.J.’s doctors believe his cancer likely came from a chemical he was exposed to when he was younger,” Trump said after announcing Daniel would “officially” be named the youngest-ever agent of the U.S. Secret Service. Daniel, who has dreamed of becoming a police officer even before his terminal diagnosis over six years ago, has been sworn in as an honorary law enforcement officer at hundreds of departments nationwide.
Dr. David Korones, who studies and treats brain cancer in children and adults as the director of the University of Rochester’s brain tumor program, said, “It’s not quite as definitive as Trump would make it out to be.”
