Washington DC - President Donald Trump told Nathanial Rai – who was rescued by a 16-year-old lifeguard after getting swept off his feet at the beach – that he would have just let him drown.
In late July, a dramatic video went viral showing 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams rescuing ten-year-old Nathanial Rai, who had been swept off his feet on a beach along the coast of California.
The clip showed Williams clinging onto Rai as waves crashed over their heads. Never letting go of the boy, he managed to wrestle his way back towards the shore until a second lifeguard reached them and provided assistance.
Williams has repeatedly dismissed praise sent his way by public figures and politicians, insisting that what he did that day – which likely saves Rai's life – was just part of his job.
On Monday, he was greeted in the Oval Office by President Donald Trump, who heaped praise upon his actions and suggested that he deserved the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
He was also forced to sit through a lengthy press conference that touched on a range of unrelated issues and saw Trump attack CNN reporter Kristen Holmes, who he called "a loud, boisterous person."
The most shocking moment came when Trump was addressing Rai, who had also visited the Oval Office in honor of Williams' actions in July.
"He's a real hero, you know when you see that, I don't know if I'd do it," Trump joked. "I wouldn't probably. You're lucky I wasn't, you're lucky I wasn't on the service that day, I don't know!"
"No he's a real hero, it's an amazing thing," he said of Williams, before turning to Rai. "And he's a real lucky guy, too, God was watching you, right?"