President Donald Trump on Tuesday, July 28th, 2026, praised a teenage lifeguard who went viral after rescuing a young boy from towering waves in Santa Cruz, California. The lifeguard, identified on social media as 16-year-old Ryder, was captured in a heart-stopping video from the previous Saturday battling massive surf as he repeatedly disappeared beneath crashing waves while holding tightly to the child he was saving.

After witnessing the dramatic rescue, Trump stated the teen deserved national recognition and announced plans to invite Ryder and his family to the White House, possibly along with the boy he saved, to present him with a High Civilian Honor. Trump said, "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!"

Eric Trump also praised the rescue on social media, calling for the teen to receive the nation's highest civilian recognition. Witnesses reported that the rescue lasted longer than the viral video showed, with beachgoers forming a human chain to assist before the surf broke it apart.

The rescue video was widely shared, highlighting the teen's bravery amid "monster surf" conditions. The incident has drawn national attention as an example of extraordinary courage.

Sources