Joshua Trump, an 11-year-old from Delaware who was invited to the State of the Union by Melania Trump after his parents said he had been bullied because of his last name, appeared to fall asleep during the presidential address.
{mosads}The young Trump could be seen next to the first lady and cancer survivor Grace Eline while attending the event on Tuesday night.
The boy captured the attention of many on social media after videos and photos emerged of him appearing to have fallen asleep during the event.
The middle schooler’s parents say he has been teased ever since Trump took office because of his last name.
“They curse at him, they call him an idiot, they call him stupid,” his mother, Megan Trump, said in December. “He said he hates himself, and he hates his last name, and he feels sad all the time.”
Joshua’s parents said he is not related to the president.
The White House said in a statement on Monday that Joshua was “thankful to the First Lady and the Trump family for their support.”
Joshua was one of 13 people to receive invitations from the president and first lady.