Trump Promises ‘High Civilian Honor’ to Lifeguard Who Saved Boy in Viral Video — After Son Eric Asks Him To

(SantaCruzNow/Instagram)

President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to give a “high civilian honor” to a lifeguard seen saving the life of a young boy in a viral video — after his son, Eric Trump, requested he do so.

Video of the pulse-pounding rescue showed the 16-year-old lifeguard never losing his grip on the child as he battled the relentless surf at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, California, over the weekend.

Beachgoer Scott Vander Dussen shot footage of the save and posted it to his SantaCruzNow Instagram page on Sunday.

The video spread like wildfire on social media, quickly garnering millions of views.

One of those viewers was Eric Trump, who shared the video on Monday.

“Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor,” Eric Trump posted on X along with the video. “This is truly the best of America! Well done!”

On Tuesday, President Trump posted a screengrab of Eric’s tweet on his Truth Social account, and appeared to concur with his son’s wish.

“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!”

The lifeguard has not been identified, but a woman claiming to be his mother posted on social media that his name is Ryder, according to Fox News.

Trump’s post came after a pair of closed-press meetings, first with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who are both in town for the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

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