President Donald Trump announced that he plans to invite a 16-year-old California lifeguard and his family to the White House to receive a high civilian honor after the teenager rescued a young boy from drowning.
“We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!” Trump wrote in Truth Social post Tuesday.
The White House echoed the announcement in a post on X, praising the teenager’s actions and highlighting the video of the rescue that has circulated widely on social media.
The rescue occurred at Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz, California, where the teenage lifeguard battled massive waves to reach the child who had been pulled away from shore, according to KSBW.
“We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!” – President Donald J. Trump
pic.twitter.com/5IoSQPd93Q
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 28, 2026
Video of the rescue, recorded by bystander Scott Vander Dussen, shows the lifeguard holding onto the boy as large waves battered the pair before another lifeguard joined the rescue and helped bring them safely to shore. Vander Dussen described the rescue as “intense.
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Trump’s announcement came after his son, Eric Trump, also praised the teenager’s actions online, urging that he receive the nation’s highest civilian honor and calling the rescue “truly the best of America!” and “well done!” in a post on X.
The White House has not yet announced a date for the ceremony or identified which civilian honor the teenager will receive.