President Donald Trump recognized lifeguard Ryder Williams, 16, in the Oval Office on Monday afternoon, about three weeks after Williams saved a child from pounding waves in Santa Cruz, California.
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“What you did was incredible,” Trump told Williams. “… When I first saw it, I said: ‘Roll that back. I want to see that again. Is that really happening?’”
A few days after a video of Williams’s July 25 rescue went viral, Trump wrote on X: “We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House.” On Monday afternoon, Trump also recognized the rescued child, whom White House officials identified as Nathaniel Rai, 10.
The president called Williams “a real hero.”
“I don’t know if I’d do it,” Trump said.
“I wouldn’t, probably,” he added, before smiling and turning to Nathaniel: “You’re lucky I wasn’t on the service that day.”
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Williams, a first-year lifeguard, said he hopes his actions inspire others.
“Try to look out for everybody around you,” he said, “and just try to help everybody out as much as you can.”
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