Teen lifeguard who saved boy at Seabright Beach meets President Trump at White House

President Donald Trump hosted a 16-year-old lifeguard and the boy he rescued from drowning at the White House. During the meeting, Trump expressed support for a potential congressional push to classify open-water lifeguards as first responders.
Why it matters
The event highlights the intersection of heroic human-interest stories and potential federal policy changes regarding emergency services classification.
President Donald Trump welcomed 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams and 10-year-old Nathaniel Rai to the Oval Office to honor Ryder’s heroic rescue of Nathaniel, who nearly drowned in the Santa Cruz, California, surf last month. The rescue, which was caught on camera and went viral, showed Nathaniel clinging to Ryder as the lifeguard struggled to bring them both safely back to shore. “And he saved this young gentleman,” Trump said, referring to Nathaniel. “Who I had a long talk with. I said, when you have made it without him? And he said, not really. Right? Not really. It was trouble.” During the event, Trump was asked by Washington Correspondent Jackie DeFusco about a push in Congress to classify open-water lifeguards as first responders, which could expand their access to federal benefits and programs. “First time I've ever heard the question," Trump said.
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