Toddler throws tantrum in the White House while Donald Trump makes announcement of 'miracle cure'

Fintan Starkey
Sat, 25 Apr 2026 08:09:47 +0000

A two-year-old boy named Travis Smith became the unexpected star of a White House event after throwing a tantrum during President Donald Trump's Oval Office address.

The youngster, who came dressed in a suit, rolled about on the carpet while officials struggled to suppress their amusement.

Mr Trump had invited Travis and his mother, Sierra, to celebrate a medical breakthrough that restored the child's hearing.

"That's really incredible," Mr Trump remarked, noting that Travis "was 100 per cent deaf, but he took this miracle cure and now he can hear his mum Sierra, say 'I love you'."

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

The White House later posted a photograph of Travis sprawled face-down, captioned: "ALMOST FRIDAY."

The light-hearted moment at the White House came against a backdrop of escalating diplomatic friction between Washington and London.

Residents of the Falkland Islands have urged President Trump to stay out of the sovereignty dispute, firmly restating their allegiance to Britain.

A leaked Pentagon document emerged yesterday proposing that America should reconsider its stance on the South Atlantic territory as retribution for what it deemed insufficient British engagement in Iran.

The controversial memo has drawn swift and sharp criticism from the Prime Minister, war veterans, and the islanders themselves, all of whom have strongly rejected the suggestion.

Sir Keir Starmer responded on Friday by unequivocally affirming British ownership of the islands.

Downing Street emphasised that the United Kingdom's position on the territory has been consistent for decades and will not shift.

"We could not be clearer about the UK's position on the Falkland Islands. It's long-standing. It's unchanged," the Prime Minister's spokesman said.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

US Embassy in London advises Americans to use caution when visiting Jewish areas in Britain amid rise in antisemitism

WATCH: Pete Hegseth takes aim at 'free riding' Europe in direct swipe - 'Much more their fight than ours!'

US-Iran peace talks set to resume after previous last-minute collapse

The spokesman added: "Sovereignty rests with the UK, and the Islands' right to self-determination is paramount."

He stressed that this stance would continue, noting: "The PM has been clear repeatedly that he won't be pressured."

The Government maintains Sir Keir will robustly defend Britain's national interests.

The Falkland Islands Government pointed to the 2013 referendum, in which 99.8 per cent of residents voted to remain a British Overseas Territory.

In a statement, the Government expressed "complete confidence in the commitment made by the UK Government to uphold and defend our right of self-determination".

Simon Weston, a veteran of the 1982 conflict, described the American intervention as "deeply saddening" when he spoke to GB News.

"It's none of his business what the sovereignty of the islands is," Mr Weston declared.

The veteran expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister's stance, saying: "Mr Starmer has reiterated that, and we and the Islanders can only thank him for that."