FAMILIES ARE FLOURISHING,
OUR VALUES ARE RENEWED, OUR
PRIDE IS RESTORED, AND FOR
ALL OF THESE REASONS I SAY
TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR GREAT
COUNTRY AND TO THE MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS, THE STATE OF
OUR UNION IS STRONGER THAN
EVER BEFORE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE VISION I WILL LAY OUT
THIS EVENING DEMONSTRATES
HOW WE ARE BUILDING THE
WORLD'S MOST PROSPEROUS AND
INCLUSIVE SOCIETY, ONE WHERE
EVERY CITIZEN CAN JOIN IN
AMERICA'S UNPARALLELED
SUCCESS AND WHERE EVERY
COMMUNITY CAN TAKE PART IN
AMERICA'S EXTRAORDINARY
RISE.
FROM THE INSTANT I TOOK
OFFICE, I MOVED RAPIDLY TO
REVIVE THE U.S. ECONOMY,
SLASHING A RECORD NUMBER OF
JOB-KILLING REGULATIONS,
ENACTING HISTORIC AND
RECORD-SETTING TAX CUTS AND
FIGHTING FOR FAIR AND
RECIPROCAL TRADE AGREEMENTS.
[APPLAUSE]
OUR AGENDA IS RELENTLESSLY
PRO-WORKER, PRO-FAMILY,
PRO-GROWTH, AND, MOST OF
ALL, PRO-AMERICAN.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
WE ARE ADVANCING WITH
UNBRIDLED OPTIMISM AND
LIFTING OUR CITIZENS OF
EVERY RACE, COLOR, RELIGION
AND CREED VERY, VERY HIGH.
SINCE MY ELECTION, WE HAVE
CREATED 7 MILLION NEW JOBS,
5 MILLION MORE THAN
GOVERNMENT EXPERTS PROJECTED
DURING THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION.
[APPLAUSE]
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS THE
LOWEST IN OVER HALF A
CENTURY.
[APPLAUSE]
AND VERY INCREDIBLY THE
AVERAGE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION IS
LOWER THAN ANY
ADMINISTRATION IN THE
HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
IF WE HADN'T REVERSED THE
FAILED ECONOMIC POLICIES OF
THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION,
THE WORLD WOULD NOT NOW BE
WITNESSING THIS GREAT
ECONOMIC SUCCESS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, HISPANIC
AMERICANS, AND
ASIAN-AMERICANS HAS REACHED
THE LOWEST LEVELS IN
HISTORY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUTH
UNEMPLOYMENT HAS REACHED AN
ALL-TIME LOW.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AFRICAN-AMERICAN POVERTY HAS
DECLINED TO THE LOWEST RATE
EVER RECORDED.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR
WOMEN REACHED THE LOWEST
LEVEL IN ALMOST 70 YEARS AND
LAST YEAR WOMEN FILLED 72%
OF ALL NEW JOBS ADDED.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE VETERANS UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE DROPPED TO A RECORD
LOW.
[APPLAUSE]
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR
DISABLED AMERICANS HAS
REACHED AN ALL-TIME LOW.
[APPLAUSE]
WORKERS WITHOUT A HIGH
SCHOOL DIPLOMA HAVE ACHIEVED
THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
RECORDED IN U.S. HISTORY.
[APPLAUSE]
A RECORD NUMBER OF YOUNG
AMERICANS ARE NOW EMPLOYED.
[APPLAUSE]
UNDER THE LAST
ADMINISTRATION, MORE THAN
10 MILLION PEOPLE WERE ADDED
TO THE FOOD STAMP ROLLS.
UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION,
7 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE
COME OFF FOOD STAMPS AND
10 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
LIFTED OFF OF WELFARE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
IN EIGHT YEARS UNDER THE
LAST ADMINISTRATION, OVER
300,000 WORKING AGE PEOPLE
DROPPED OUT OF THE
WORKFORCE.
IN JUST THREE YEARS OF MY
ADMINISTRATION, 3.5 MILLION
PEOPLE WORKING AGE PEOPLE
HAVE JOINED THE WORKFORCE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
SINCE MY ELECTION, THE NET
WORTH OF THE BOTTOM HALF OF
WAGE EARNERS HAS INCREASED
BY 47%, THREE TIMES FASTER,
THAN THE INCREASE FOR THE
TOP 1%.
[APPLAUSE]
AFTER DECADES OF FLAT AND
FALLING INCOMES, WAGES ARE
RISING FAST AND WONDERFULLY,
THEY ARE RISING FASTEST FOR
LOW INCOME WORKERS WHO HAVE
SEEN A 16% PAY INCREASE
SINCE MY ELECTION.
[APPLAUSE]
THIS IS A BLUE COLLAR BOOM.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
REAL MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
IS NOW AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
EVER RECORDED.
[APPLAUSE]
SINCE MY ELECTION, U.S.
STOCK MARKETS HAVE SOARED.
70%, ADDING MORE THAN
$12 TRILLION TO OUR NATION'S
WEALTH, TRANSCENDING
ANYTHING ANYONE BELIEVED WAS
POSSIBLE.
THIS IS A RECORD.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERY
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IS
LOOKING UP TO.
THEY ADMIRE.
[APPLAUSE]
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE HAS JUST
REACHED AMAZING NEW HIGHS.
ALL OF THOSE MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE WITH 401(K)S AND
PENSIONS ARE DOING FAR
BETTER THAN THEY HAVE EVER
DONE BEFORE WITH INCREASES
OF 60, 70, 80, 90 AND
100 PERCENT AND EVEN MORE.
JOBS AND INVESTMENTS ARE
POURING IN TO 9,000
PREVIOUSLY NEGLECTED
NEIGHBORHOODS OPPORTUNITY
ZONES A PLAN SPEARHEADED BY
SENATOR TIM SCOTT AS PART OF
OUR GREAT REPUBLICAN TAX
CUT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
IN OTHER WORDS, WEALTHY
PEOPLE IN COMPANIES ARE
POURING MONEY INTO POOR
NEIGHBORHOODS OR AREAS THAT
HAVEN'T SEEN INVESTMENT IN
MANY DECADES CREATING JOBS,
ENERGY, AND EXCITEMENT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT
THESE DESERVING COMMUNITIES
HAVE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
THIS.
IT'S ALL WORKING.
OPPORTUNITY ZONES ARE
HELPING AMERICANS LIKE ARMY
VETERAN TONY RANKINS FROM
CINCINNATI, OHIO.
AFTER STRUGGLING WITH
STRUGGLING WITH DRUG
ADDICTION.
HE LOST HIS FAMILY.
HE WAS HOMELESS.
HE FOUND A CONSTRUCTION
COMPANY THAT INVESTS IN
OPPORTUNITY ZONES.
HE IS NOW A TOP TRADESMAN,
DRUG-FREE, REUNITED WITH HIS
FAMILY AND HE IS HERE
TONIGHT.
TONY, KEEP UP THE GREAT
WORK, TONY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, TONY.
OUR ROARING ECONOMY HAS, FOR
THE FIRST TIME EVER, GIVEN
MANY FORMER PRISONERS THE
ABILITY TO GET A GREAT JOB
AND A FRESH START.
THIS SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE
IS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE
PASSED LANDMARK CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM INTO LAW.
EVERYBODY SAID THAT CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM COULDN'T BE
DONE.
BUT I GOT IT DONE AND THE
PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM GOT IT
DONE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THANKS TO OUR BOLD
REGULATORY REDUCTION
CAMPAIGN, THE UNITED STATES
HAS BECOME THE NUMBER ONE
PRODUCER OF OIL AND NATURAL
GAS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
, BY FAR.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
WITH THE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS
WE HAVE MADE OVER THE PAST
THREE YEARS, AMERICA IS NOW
ENERGY INDEPENDENT AND
ENERGY JOBS LIKE SO MANY
OTHER ELEMENTS OF OUR
COUNTRY ARE AT A RECORD
HIGH.
[APPLAUSE]
WE ARE DOING NUMBERS THAT NO
ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT
POSSIBLE JUST THREE YEARS
AGO.
LIKEWISE, WE ARE RESTORING
OUR NATION'S MANUFACTURING
MIGHT, EVEN THOUGH
PREDICTIONS WERE, AS YOU ALL
KNOW, THAT THIS COULD NEVER
EVER BE DONE.
AFTER LOSING 60,000
FACTORIES UNDER THE PREVIOUS
TWO ADMINISTRATIONS, AMERICA
HAS NOW GAINED 12,000 NEW
FACTORIES UNDER MY
ADMINISTRATION WITH
THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF
PLANTS AND FACTORIES BEING
PLANNED OR BEING BUILT.
[APPLAUSE]
COMPANIES ARE NOT LEAVING.
THEY ARE COMING BACK TO THE
U.S.A.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE FACT IS THAT EVERYBODY
WANTS TO BE WHERE THE ACTION
IS AND THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA IS INDEED THE PLACE
WHERE THE ACTION IS.
[APPLAUSE]
ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROMISES
I MADE TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WAS TO REPLACE THE
DISASTROUS NAFTA TRADE DEAL.
[APPLAUSE]
IN FACT, UNFAIR TRADE IS
PERHAPS THE SINGLE BIGGEST
REASON THAT I DECIDED TO RUN
FOR PRESIDENT.
FOLLOWING NAFTA'S ADOPTION,
OUR NATION LOST ONE IN FOUR
NUFACTURING JOBS, MANY
POLITICIANS CAME AND WENT
PLEDGING TO CHANGE OR
REPLACE NAFTA, ONLY TO DO SO
AND THEN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
HAPPENED.
BUT, UNLIKE SO MANY WHO CAME
BEFORE ME, I KEEP MY
PROMISES.
WE DID OUR JOB.
[APPLAUSE]
SIX DAYS AGO I REPLACED
NAFTA AND SIGNED THE BRAND
NEW U.S., MEXICO, CANADA
AGREEMENT INTO LAW.
THE USMCA WILL CREATE NEARLY
100,000 NEW HIGH-PAYING
AMERICAN AUTO JOBS AND
MASSIVELY BOOST EXPORTS FOR
OUR FARMERS, RANCHERS AND
FACTORY WORKERS.
[APPLAUSE]
IT WILL ALSO BRING TRADE
WITH MEXICO AND CANADA TO A
MUCH HIGHER LEVEL BUT ALSO
TO BE A MUCH GREATER DEGREE
OF FAIRNESS AND RECIPROCITY.
WE WILL HAVE THAT, FAIRNESS
AND RECIPROCITY AND I SAY
THAT FINALLY BECAUSE IT'S
BEEN MANY, MANY YEARS THAT
WE WERE TREATED FAIRLY ON
TRADE.
[APPLAUSE]
THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR
TRADE DEAL IN MANY YEARS TO
EARN THE STRONG BACKING OF
AMERICA'S LABOR UNIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
I ALSO PROMISED OUR CITIZENS
THAT I WOULD IMPOSE TARIFFS
TO CONFRONT CHINA'S MASSIVE
THEFT OF AMERICA'S JOBS.
OUR STRATEGY HAS WORKED.
DAYS AGO WE SIGNED THE
GROUND-BREAKING NEW
AGREEMENT WITH CHINA THAT
WILL DEFEND OUR WORKERS,
PROTECT OUR INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY, BRING BILLIONS AND
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TO
OUR TREASURY, AND OPEN VAST
NEW MARKETS FOR PRODUCTS
MADE AND GROWN RIGHT HERE IN
THE U.S.A.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
FOR DECADES, CHINA HAS TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF THE UNITED
STATES.
NOW BEWE HAVE CHANGED THAT
BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, WE
HAVE, PERHAPS, THE BEST
RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE EVER
HAD WITH CHINA, INCLUDING
WITH PRESIDENT XI.
THEY RESPECT WHAT WE HAVE
DONE BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY,
THEY COULD NEVER REALLY
BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE ABLE
TO GET AWAY WITH WHAT THEY
WERE DOING YEAR AFTER YEAR,
DECADE AFTER DECADE WITHOUT
SOMEONE IN OUR COUNTRY
STEPPING UP AND SAYING
THAT'S ENOUGH.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW WE WANT TO REBUILD OUR
COUNTRY AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE ARE REBUILDING OUR
COUNTRY.
AS WE RESTORE AMERICAN
LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD, WE ARE ONCE AGAIN
STANDING UP FOR FREEDOM IN
OUR HEMISPHERE.
[APPLAUSE]
THAT'S WHY MY ADMINISTRATION
REVERSED THE FAILING
POLICIES OF THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION ON CUBA.
[APPLAUSE]
WE ARE SUPPORTING THE HOPES
OF CUBANS, NICARAGUAS AND
VENEZUELAS.
LEADING AGAINST THE
SOCIALIST DICTATOR OF
VENEZUELA NICOLAS MADURO.
[APPLAUSE]
MADURO IS AN ILLEGITIMATE
RULER, A TYRANT WHO
BRUTALIZES HIS PEOPLE BUT
MADURO'S GRIP ON TYRANNY
WILL BE SMASHED AND BROKEN.
HERE THIS EVENING IS A VERY
BRAVE MAN WHO CARRIES WITH
HIM THE HOPES, DREAMS AND AS
EXPIRATIONS OF ALL
VENEZUELANS.
JOINING US IN THE GALLERY IS
THE TRUE AND LEGITIMATE
PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA, JUAN
GUAIDO.
MR. PRESIDENT, PLEASE TAKE
THIS MESSAGE BACK TO YOUR
COUNTRY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT,
GREAT HONOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE TAKE THIS MESSAGE
BACK THAT ALL AMERICANS ARE
UNITED WITH THE VENEZUELAN
PEOPLE AND THEIR RIGHTEOUS
STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. PRESIDENT.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SOCIALISM DESTROYS NATIONS
BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER FREEDOM
UNIFIES THE SOUL.
[APPLAUSE]
TO SAFEGUARD AMERICAN
LIBERTY, WE HAVE INVESTED A
RECORD-BREAKING
$2.2 TRILLION IN THE UNITED
STATES MILITARY.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
PURCHASE THE FINEST PLANES,
MISSILES, ROCKETS, SHIPS AND
EVERY OTHER FORM OF MILITARY
EQUIPMENT AND IT'S ALL MADE
RIGHT HERE IN THE U.S.A.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
WE ARE ALSO GETTING OUR
ALLIES FINALLY TO HELP PAY
THEIR FAIR SHARE.
[APPLAUSE]
I HAVE RAISED CONTRIBUTIONS
FROM OTHER NATO MEMBERS FROM
FOR MAN $400 BILLION AND
NUMBER OF ALLIES MEETING
THEIR MINIMUM OBLIGATIONS
HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED.
AND JUST WEEKS AGO FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE PRESIDENT
TRUMAN ESTABLISHED THE AIR
FORCE, MORE THAN 70 YEARS
EARLIER WE CREATED A BRAND
NEW BRANCH OF THE UNITED
STATES ARMED FORCES.
IT'S CALLED THE SPACE FORCE.
VERY IMPORTANT.
[APPLAUSE]
IN THE GALLERY TONIGHT WE
HAVE A YOUNG GENTLEMAN AND
WHAT HE WANTS SO BADLY 13
YEARS OLD IAN, AN 8TH GRADER
FROM ARIZONA AND PLEASE
STAND UP.
IAN HAS ALWAYS DREAMED OF
GOING TO SPACE.
HE WAS THE FIRST IN HIS
CLASS AND AMONG THE YOUNGEST
AT AN AVIATION ACADEMY.
HE ASPIRES TO GO TO THE AIR
FORCE ACADEMY AND THEN HE
HAS HIS EYE ON THE SPACE
FORCE.
AND IAN SAYS, MOST PEOPLE
LOOK UP AT SPACE, I WANT TO
LOOK DOWN ON THE WORLD.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
BUT SITTING BEHIND IAIN
TONIGHT IS HIS GREATEST HERO
OF THEM ALL, CHARLES MCGEHEE
WAS BORN IN CLEVELAND, OHIO
ONE CENTURY AGO.
CHARLES IS ONE OF THE LAST
SURVIVING TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.
THE FIRST BLACK FIGHTER
PILOTS AND HE ALSO HAPPENS
TO BE IAIN'S GREAT
GRANDFATHER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
INCREDIBLE STORY.
AFTER MORE THAN 130 COMBAT
MISSIONS IN WORLD WAR II, HE
CAME BACK HOME TO A COUNTRY
STILL STRUGGLING FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS AND WENT ON TO SERVE
AMERICA IN KOREA AND
VIETNAM.
ON DECEMBER 7TH, CHARLES
CELEBRATED HIS 100TH
BIRTHDAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
A FEW WEEKS AGO, I SIGNED A
BILL PROMOTING CHARLES
MCGEHEE TO BRIGADIER GENERAL
AND EARLIER TODAY I PINNED
THE STARS ON HIS SHOULDERS
ON THE OVAL OFFICE.
GENERAL MGGEE, OUR NATION
SALUTES YOU, THANK YOU, SIR.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
FROM THE PILGRIMS TO THE
FOUNDERS, FROM THE SOLDIERS
AT VALLEY FORGE TO THE
MARCHERS AT SELMA AND FROM
PRESIDENT LINCOLN TO THE
REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING,
AMERICANS HAVE ALWAYS
REJECTED LIMITS ON OUR
CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, WE MUST
NEVER FORGET THAT THE ONLY
VICTORIES THAT MATTER IN
WASHINGTON ARE VICTORIES
THAT DELIVER FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE PEOPLE ARE THE HEART OF
OUR COUNTRY.
THEIR DREAMS ARE THE SOUL OF
OUR COUNTRY.
AND THEIR LOVE IS WHAT
POWERS AND SUSTAINS OUR
COUNTRY.
WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT
OUR JOB IS TO PUT AMERICA
FIRST.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE NEXT STEP FORWARD IN
BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE
SOCIETY IS MAKING SURE THAT
EVERY YOUNG AMERICAN GETS A
GREAT EDUCATION AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THE
AMERICAN DREAM.
YET, FOR TOO LONG COUNTLESS
AMERICAN CHILDREN HAVE BEEN
TRAPPED IN FAILING
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.
TO RESCUE THESE STUDENTS, 18
STATES HAVE CREATED SCHOOL
CHOICE IN THE FORM OF
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS.
THE PROGRAMS ARE SO POPULAR
THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
STUDENTS REMAIN ON A WAITING
LIST.
ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS IS
JANIYAH DAVIS, A FOURTH
GRADER FROM PHILADELPHIA.
JANIYAH.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
JANIYAH'S MOM, STEPHANIE, IS
A SINGLE PARENT.
SHE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO
GIVE HER DAUGHTER A BETTER
FUTURE BUT LAST YEAR THAT
FUTURE WAS PUT FURTHER OUT
OF REACH WHEN PENNSYLVANIA'S
GOVERNOR VETOED LEGISLATION
TO EXPAND SCHOOL CHOICE TO
50,000 CHILDREN.
JANIYAH AND STEPHANIE ARE IN
THE GALLERY.
STEPHANIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE WITH YOUR
BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
JANIYAH, I HAVE SOME GOOD
NEWS FOR YOU, I'M PLEASED TO
INFORM YOU THAT YOUR LONG
WAIT IS OVER.
I CAN PROUDLY ANNOUNCE
TONIGHT THAT AN OPPORTUNITY
SCHOLARSHIP HAS BECOME
AVAILABLE IS GOING TO YOU
AND YOU WILL SOON BE HEADING
TO THE SCHOOL OF YOUR
CHOICE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
NOW I CALL ON CONGRESS TO
GIVE 1 MILLION AMERICAN
CHILDREN THE SAME
OPPORTUNITY JANIYAH HAS JUST
RECEIVED.
PASS THE EDUCATION FREEDOM
SCHOLARSHIPS AND
OPPORTUNITIES ACT BECAUSE NO
PARENT SHOULD BE FORCED TO
SEND THEIR CHILD TO A
FAILING GOVERNMENT SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
EVERY YOUNG PERSON SHOULD
HAVE A SAFE AND SECURE
ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO
LEARN AND TO GROW.
FOR THIS REASON OUR
MAGNIFICENT FIRST LADY HAS
LAUNCHED THE BE BEST
INITIATIVE TO LAUNCH A SAFE
HEALTHY SUPPORTIVE AND
DRUG-FREE LIFE FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION, ONLINE, IN
SCHOOL, AND IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU, MELANIA, FOR YOUR
EXTRAORDINARY LOVE AND
PROFOUND CARE FOR AMERICA'S
CHILDREN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
MY ADMINISTRATION IS
DETERMINED TO GIVE OUR
CITIZENS THE OPPORTUNITIES
THEY NEED, REGARDLESS OF AGE
OR BACKGROUND.
THROUGH OUR PLEDGE TO
AMERICAN WORKERS, OVER 400
COMPANIES WILL ALSO PROVIDE
NEW JOBS IN EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES TO ALMOST
15 MILLION AMERICANS.
MY BUDGET ALSO CONTAINS AN
EXCITING VISION FOR OUR
NATION'S HIGH SCHOOLS.
TONIGHT I ASK CONGRESS TO
SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND
BACK MY PLAN TO OFFER
VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL
EDUCATION IN EVERY SINGLE
HIGH SCHOOL IN AMERICA.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
TO EXPAND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY,
I AM ALSO PROUD THAT WE
ACHIEVED RECORD AND
PERMANENT FUNDING FOR OUR
NATION'S HISTORICALLY BLACK
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
[APPLAUSE]
A GOOD LIFE FOR AMERICAN
FAMILIES ALSO REQUIRES THE
MOST AFFORDABLE, INNOVATIVE
AND HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM ON EARTH.
BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE, HEALTH
INSURANCE PREMIUMS HAD MORE
THAN DOUBLED IN JUST FIVE
YEARS.
I MOVED QUICKLY TO PROVIDE
AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES.
OUR NEW PLANS ARE UP TO 60%
LESS EXPENSIVE AND BETTER.
[APPLAUSE]
I HAVE ALSO MADE AN IRONCLAD
PLEDGE TO AMERICAN FAMILIES.
WE WILL ALSO PROTECT
PATIENTS WITH PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AND WE WILL ALWAYS PROTECT
YOUR MEDICARE AND WE WILL
ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR SOCIAL
SECURITY, ALWAYS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE AMERICAN PATIENT SHOULD
NEVER BE BLINDSIDED BY
MEDICAL BILLS.
THAT IS WHY I SIGNED AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRING
PRICE TRANSPARENCY.
[APPLAUSE]
MANY EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT
TRANSPARENCY, WHICH WILL GO
INTO FULL EFFECT AT THE
BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR WILL
BE EVEN BIGGER THAN
HEALTHCARE REFORM.
[APPLAUSE]
IT WILL SAVE FAMILIES
MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR
SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER CARE.
BUT AS WE WORK TO IMPROVE
AMERICANS' HEALTHCARE, THERE
ARE THOSE WHO WANT TO TAKE
AWAY YOUR HEALTHCARE, TAKE
AWAY YOUR DOCTOR, AND
ABOLISH PRIVATE INSURANCE
ENTIRELY.
132 LAWMAKERS IN THIS ROOM
HAVE ENDORSED LEGISLATION TO
IMPOSE A SOCIALIST TAKEOVER
OF OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM,
WIPING OUT THE PRIVATE
HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS OF
180 MILLION VERY HAPPY
AMERICANS.
TO THOSE WATCHING AT HOME
TONIGHT, I WANT YOU TO KNOW
WE WILL NEVER LET SOCIALISM
DESTROY AMERICAN HEALTHCARE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
OVER 130 LEDGES LAY TORE LEDGESS
TO MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL
ALIENS FORCING TAXPAYERS TO
SUBSIDIZE FREE CARE FOR
ANYONE IN THE WORLD WHO
UNLAWFULLY CROSSES OUR
BORDERS.
THESE PROPOSALS WOULD RAID
THE MEDICARE BENEFITS OF OUR
SENIORS AND THAT OUR SENIORS
DEPEND ON WHILE ACTING AS A
POWERFUL LURE FOR ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION.
THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
CALIFORNIA AND OTHER STATES.
THEIR SYSTEMS ARE TOTALLY
OUT OF CONTROL, COSTING
TAXPAYERS VAST AND
UNAFFORDABLE AMOUNTS OF
MONEY.
IF FORCING AMERICAN
TAXPAYERS TO PROVIDE
UNLIMITED FREE HEALTHCARE TO
ILLEGAL AMERICANS SOUNDS SOUNDS
FAIR TO YOU STAND WITH THE
RADICAL LEFT.
IF YOU BELIEVE WE SHOULD
DEFEND SENIORS PASS
LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT FREE
GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE FOR
ILLEGAL ALIENS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THIS WILL BE A TREMENDOUS
BOON TO OUR ALREADY VERY
STRONGLY GUARDED SOUTHERN
BORDER.
WHERE, AS WE SPEAK, A LONG,
TALL, AND VERY POWERFUL WALL
IS BEING BUILT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
WE HAVE NOW COMPLETED OVER
100 MILES AND HAVE OVER
500 MILES FULLY COMPLETED IN
A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
EARLY NEXT YEAR WE WILL HAVE
SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN
500 MILES COMPLETED.
MY ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO
TAKING ON THE BIG
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.
[LAUGHTER]
WE HAVE APPROVED A RECORD
NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE GENERIC
DRUGS AND MEDICINES ARE
BEING APPROVED BY THE FDA AT
A FASTER CLIP THAN EVER
BEFORE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AND I WAS PLEASED TO
ANNOUNCE LAST YEAR THAT FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN 51 YEARS
THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS ACTUALLY WENT DOWN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AND WORKING TOGETHER
CONGRESS CAN REDUCE DRUG
PRICES SUBSTANTIALLY FROM
CURRENT LEVELS.
I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO
SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY OF
IOWA AND OTHERS IN CONGRESS
IN ORDER TO GET SOMETHING ON
DRUG PRICING DONE AND DONE
QUICKLY AND PROPERLY.
I'M CALLING FOR BIPARTISAN
LEGISLATION THAT ACHIEVES
THE GOAL OF DRAMATICALLY
LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG
PRICES.
GET A BILL ON MY DESK AND I
WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW
IMMEDIATELY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[CHANTING]
WITH UNYIELDING COMMITMENT
WE ARE CURBING THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC, DRUG OVERDOSE
DEATHS DECLINED FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 30
YEARS.
MUNK THE STATES HARDEST HIT
OHIO IS DOWN 22%.
PENNSYLVANIA IS DOWN 18%.
WISCONSIN IS DOWN 10%.
AND WE WILL NOT QUIT UNTIL
WE HAVE BEATEN THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC ONCE AND FOR ALL.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
PROTECTING AMERICANS' HEALTH
ALSO MEANS FIGHTING
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
WE ARE COORDINATING WITH THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND
WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER ON
THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN
CHINA.
MY ADMINISTRATION WILL TAKE
ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO
SAFEGUARD OUR CITIZENS FROM
THIS THREAT.
WE HAVE LAUNCHED AMBITIOUS
NEW INITIATIVES TO
SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE CARE
FOR AMERICANS WITH KIDNEY
DISEASE, ALZHEIMER'S, AND
THOSE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL
HEALTH AND BECAUSE CONGRESS
WAS SO GOOD AS TO FUND MY
REQUEST, NEW CURES FOR
CHILDHOOD CANCER AND WE WILL
ERADICATE THE AIDS EPIDEMIC
IN AMERICA BY THE END OF
THIS DECADE.
[APPLAUSE]
ALMOST EVERY AMERICAN FAMILY
KNOWS THE PAIN WHEN A LOVED
ONE IS DIAGNOSED WITH A
SERIOUS ILLNESS.
HERE TONIGHT IS A SPECIAL
MAN.
BELOVED BY MILLIONS OF
AMERICANS WHO JUST RECEIVED
A STAGE 4 ADVANCED CANCER
DIAGNOSIS.
THIS IS NOT GOOD NEWS BUT
WHAT IS GOOD NEWS IS THAT HE
IS THE GREATEST FIGHTER AND
WINNER THAT YOU WILL EVER
MEET.
RUSH LIMBAUGH, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR DECADES OF TIRELESS
DEVOTION TO OUR COUNTRY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
AND, RUSH, IN RECOGNITION OF
ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR
OUR NATION, THE MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE A DAY THAT YOU SPEAK
TO AND THAT YOU INSPIRE AND
ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK
THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR
CHARITY, I AM PROUD TO
ANNOUNCE TONIGHT THAT YOU
WILL BE RECEIVING OUR
COUNTRY'S HIGHEST CIVILIAN
HONOR, THE PRESIDENTIAL
MEDAL OF FREEDOM.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
I WILL NOW ASK THE FIRST
LADY OF THE UNITED STATES TO
PRESENT YOU WITH THE HONOR,
PLEASE.
LOVE YOU, RUSH.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
RUSH AND CATHERINE,
CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU, CATHERINE.
AS WE PRAY FOR ALL WHO ARE
SICK, WE KNOW THAT AMERICA
IS CONSTANTLY ACHIEVING NEW
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS.
IN 2017, DOCTORS AT SAINT
LUKE'S HOSPITAL IN KANSAS
CITY DELIVERED ONE OF THE
EARLIEST PREMATURE BABIES
EVER TO SURVIVE.
BORN AT JUST 21 WEEKS AND
SIX DAYS AND WEIGHING LESS
THAN A POUND, ELLIE
SCHNEIDER WAS A BORN
FIGHTER.
THROUGH THE SKILL OF HER
DOCTORS AND THE PRAYERS OF
HER PARENTS LITTLE ELLIE
KEPT ON WINNING THE BATTLE
OF LIFE.
TODAY ELLIE IS A STRONG
HEALTHY 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL
SITTING WITH HER AMAZING
MOTHER ROBIN.
IN THE GALLERY ELLIE AND
ROBIN, WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE
YOU WITH US TONIGHT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
ELLIE REMINDS US THAT EVERY
CHILD IS A MIRACLE OF LIFE
AND THANKS TO MODERN MEDICAL
WONDERS, 50% OF VERY
PREMATURE BABIES DELIVERED
AT THE HOSPITAL WHERE ELLIE
WAS BORN NOW SURVIVE.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE THING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
OUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO ENSURE
THAT EVERY BABY HAS THE BEST
CHANCE TO THRIVE AND GROW
JUST LIKE ELLIE.
THAT IS WHY I'M ASKING
CONGRESS TO PROVIDE AN
ADDITIONAL $50 MILLION TO
FUND NEONATAL RESEARCH FOR
AMERICA'S YOUNGEST PATIENTS.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
THAT IS WHY I'M ALSO CALLING
UPON MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
HERE TONIGHT TO PASS
LEGISLATION FINALLY BANNING
THE LATE TERM ABORTION OF
BABIES.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
WHETHER WE ARE REPUBLICAN,
DEMOCRAT, OR INDEPENDENT,
SURELY WE MUST ALL AGREE
THAT EVERY HUMAN LIFE IS A
SACRED GIFT FROM GOD AS WE
SUPPORT AMERICA'S MOMS AND
DADS, I WAS RECENTLY PROUD
TO SIGN THE LAW PROVIDING
NEW PARENTS IN THE FEDERAL
WORKFORCE PAID FAMILY LEAVE
SERVING AS A MODEL FOR THE
REST OF THE COUNTRY.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW I CALL ON CONGRESS TO
PASS THE BIPARTISAN
ADVANCING SUPPORT FOR
WORKING FAMILIES ACT
EXTENDING FAMILY LEAVE TO
MOTHERS AND FATHERS ALL
ACROSS OUR NATION.
[APPLAUSE]
40 MILLION AMERICAN FAMILIES
HAVE AN AVERAGE $2,200 EXTRA
THANKS TO OUR CHILD TAX
CREDIT.
[APPLAUSE]
I HAVE ALSO OVERSEEN
HISTORIC FUNDING INCREASES
FOR HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE
ENABLING 17 STATES TO HELP
MORE CHILDREN, MANY OF WHICH
HAVE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED
THEIR WAIT LIST ALL
TOGETHER.
AND I SENT CONGRESS A PLAN
WITH A VISION TO FURTHER
EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH
QUALITY CHILD CARE AND URGE
YOU TO ACT IMMEDIATELY.
[APPLAUSE]
TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
DAYS AGO I ANNOUNCED THAT
THE UNITED STATES WILL JOIN
THE 1 TRILLION TREES
INITIATIVE, AN AMBITIOUS
EFFORT TO BRING TOGETHER
GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE
SECTOR TO PLANT NEW TREES IN
AMERICA AND ALL AROUND THE
WORLD.
[APPLAUSE]
WE MUST ALSO REBUILD
AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
I ASK YOU TO PASS SENATOR
JOHN BARRASSO'S HIGHWAY BILL
TO INVEST IN NEW ROADS,
BRIDGES AND TUNNELS ALL
ACROSS OUR LAND.
I'M ALSO COMMITTED TO
ENSURING THAT EVERY CITIZEN
CAN HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH
SPEED INTERNET, INCLUDING
AND ESPECIALLY IN RURAL
AMERICA.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
A BETTER TOMORROW FOR ALL
AMERICANS ALSO REQUIRES US
TO KEEP AMERICA SAFE.
THAT MEANS SUPPORTING THE
MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT AT EVERY LEVEL,
INCLUDING OUR NATION'S
HEROIC ICE OFFICERS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
LAST YEAR OUR BRAVE ICE
OFFICERS ARRESTED MORE THAN
120,000 CRIMINAL ALIENS
CHARGED WITH NEARLY 10,000
BURGLARIES, 5,000 SEXUAL
ASSAULTS, 45,000 VIOLENT
ASSAULTS, AND 2,000 MURDERS.
TRAGICALLY, THERE ARE MANY
CITIES IN AMERICA WHERE
RADICAL POLITICIANS HAVE
CHOSEN TO PROVIDE SANCTUARY
FOR THESE CRIMINAL ILLEGAL
ALIENS.
[BOOS]
IN SANCTUARY CITIES, LOCAL
OFFICIALS ORDER POLICE TO
RELEASE DANGEROUS CRIMINAL
ALIENS TO PREY UPON THE
PUBLIC INSTEAD OF HANDING
THEM OVER TO ICE TO BE
SAFELY REMOVED.
JUST 29 DAYS AGO, A CRIMINAL
ALIEN FREED BY THE SANCTUARY
CITY OF NEW YORK WAS CHARGED
WITH THE BRUTAL RAPE AND
MURDER OF A 92-YEAR-OLD
WOMAN.
THE KILLER HAD BEEN
PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED FOR
ASSAULT BUT UNDER NEW YORK
SANCTUARY POLICIES, HE WAS
SET FREE.
IF THE CITY HAD HONORED
ICE'S DETAINER REQUEST, HIS
VICTIM WOULD STILL BE ALIVE
TODAY.
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PASSED AN OUTRAGEOUS LAW
DECLARING THEIR WHOLE STATE
TO BE A SANCTUARY FOR
CRIMINAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
A VERY TERRIBLE SANCTUARY
WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS.
HERE IS JUST ONE TRAGIC
EXAMPLE.
IN DECEMBER 2018 CALIFORNIA
POLICE DETAINED AN ILLEGAL
ALIEN WITH FIVE PRIOR
ARRESTS, INCLUDING
CONVICTIONS FOR ROBBERY AND
ASSAULT.
BUT AS REQUIRED BY
CALIFORNIA'S SANCTUARY LAW,
LOCAL AUTHORITIES RELEASED
HIM.
DAYS LATER THE CRIMINAL
ALIEN WENT ON A GRUESOME
SPREE OF DEADLY VIOLENCE.
HE VICIOUSLY SHOT ONE MAN
GOING ABOUT HIS DAILY WORK.
HE APPROACHED A WOMAN
SITTING IN HER CAR AND SHOT
HER IN THE ARM AND IN THE
CHEST.
HE WALKED IN TO A
CONVENIENCE STORE AND WILDLY
FIRED HIS WEAPON.
HE HIJACKED A TRUCK AND
SMASHED INTO VEHICLES
CRITICALLY INJURING INNOCENT
VICTIMS.
ONE OF THE VICTIMS IS A
TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE SITUATION
DIED.
51-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN NAMED
ROCKY JONES.
ROCKY WAS AT A GAS STATION
WHEN THIS VILE CRIMINAL
FIRED 8 BULLETS AT HIM FROM
CLOSE RANGE MURDERING HIM IN
COLD BLOOD.
ROCKY LEFT BEHIND A DEVOTED
FAMILY, INCLUDING HIS
BROTHERS WHO LOVED HIM MORE
THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE
WORLD.
ONE OF HIS GRIEVING BROTHERS
IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT.
JODY, WOULD YOU PLEASE
STAND.
JODY, THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
JODY, OUR HEARTS WEEP FOR
YOUR LOSS AND WE WILL NOT
REST UNTIL YOU HAVE JUSTICE.
SENATOR THOM TILLIS HAS
INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO
ALLOW AMERICANS LIKE JODY TO
SUE SANCTUARY CITIES AND
STATES WHEN A LOVED ONE IS
HURT OR KILLED AS A RESULT
OF THESE DEADLY PRACTICES.
[APPLAUSE]
I ASK CONGRESS TO PASS THE
JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF
SANCTUARY CITIES ACT
IMMEDIATELY.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SHOULD BE A SANCTUARY FOR
LAW ABIDING AMERICANS, NOT
CRIMINAL ALIENS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
IN THE LAST THREE YEARS ICE
HAS ARRESTED OVER 5,000
WICKED HUMAN TRAFFICKERS AND
I HAVE SIGNED NINE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION TO STAMP OUT THE
MENACE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
DOMESTICALLY AND ALL AROUND
THE GLOBE.
MY ADMINISTRATION HAS
UNDERTAKEN AN UNPRECEDENTED
EFFORT TO SECURE THE
SOUTHERN BORDER OF THE
UNITED STATES.
[APPLAUSE]
BEFORE I CAME INTO OFFICE,
IF YOU SHOWED UP ILLEGALLY
ON OUR SOUTHERN BORDER AND
WERE ARRESTED, YOU WERE
SIMPLY RELEASED AND ALLOWED
INTO OUR COUNTRY, NEVER TO
BE SEEN AGAIN.
MY ADMINISTRATION HAS ENDED
CATCH AND RELEASE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
IF YOU COME ILLEGALLY, YOU
WILL NOW BE PROMPTLY REMOVED
FROM OUR COUNTRY.
[APPLAUSE]
VERY IMPORTANTLY, WE ENTERED
INTO HISTORIC COOPERATION
AGREEMENTS WITH THE
GOVERNMENTS OF MEXICO,
HONDURAS, EL SALVADOR AND
GUATEMALA.
AS A RESULT OF OUR
UNPRECEDENTED EFFORTS,
ILLEGAL CROSSINGS ARE DOWN
75% SINCE MAY, DROPPING 8
STRAIGHT MONTHS IN A ROW.
[APPLAUSE]
AND AS THE WALL RAPIDLY GOES
UP, DRUG SEIZURES RISE AND
THE BORDER CROSSINGS ARE
GOING DOWN AND GOING DOWN
VERY RAPIDLY.
LAST YEAR OUR TRAVEL TO THE
BORDER IN TEXAS I MET CHIEF
PATROL AGENT RALEIGH OR RAÚL OR.
THEY HAVE SEIZED MORE THAN
200,000 POUNDS OF POISONOUS
NARCOTICS.
ARRESTED MORE THAN 3,000
HUMAN SMUGGLERS AND RESCUE
YOU HAD MORE THAN 2,000
MIGRANTS.
DAYS AGO AGENT ORTIZ WAS
PROMOTED TO DEPUTY CHIEF OF
BORDER PATROL AND HE JOINS
US TONIGHT.
CHIEF ORTIZ, PLEASE STAND.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
A GRATEFUL NATION THANKS YOU
AND ALL OF THE HEROES OF
BORDER PATROL AND ICE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
TO BUILD ON THESE HISTORIC
GAINS WE ARE WORKING ON
LEGISLATION TO REPLACE OUR
OUTDATED AND RANDOMIZED
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM WITH ONE
BASED ON MERIT, WELCOMING
THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE RULES,
CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMY,
SUPPORT THEMSELVES
FINANCIALLY, AND UPHOLD OUR
VALUES.
[APPLAUSE]
WITH EVERY ACTION MY
ADMINISTRATION IS RESTORING
THE RULE OF LAW AND
REASSERTING THE CULTURE OF
AMERICAN FREEDOM.
[APPLAUSE]
WORKING WITH SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL --
THANK YOU, MITCH.
[APPLAUSE]
AND HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE
SENATE, WE HAVE CONFIRMED A
RECORD NUMBER OF 187 NEW
FEDERAL JUDGES TO UPHOLD OUR
CONSTITUTION AS WRITTEN.
THIS INCLUDES TWO BRILLIANT
NEW SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
NEIL GORSUCH AND BRETT
KAVANAUGH.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
AND WE HAVE MANY IN THE
PIPELINE.
[LAUGHTER]
MY ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO
DEFENDING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
AND THAT INCLUDES THE
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PRAY
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
[APPLAUSE]
IN AMERICA, WE DON'T PUNISH
PRAYER.
WE DON'T TEAR DOWN CROSSES.
WE DON'T BAN SYMBOLS OF
FAITH.
WE DON'T MUZZLE PREACHERS
AND PASTORS.
IN AMERICA WE CELEBRATE
FAITH.
WE CHERISH RELIGION.
WE LIFT OUR VOICES IN PRAYER
AND WE RAISE OUR SIGHTS TO
THE GLORY OF GOD.
JUST AS WE BELIEVE IN THE
FIRST AMENDMENT, WE ALSO
BELIEVE IN ANOTHER
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT THAT IS
UNDER SIEGE ALL ACROSS OUR
COUNTRY.
SO LONG AS I AM PRESIDENT, I
WILL ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR
SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO
KEEP AND BEAR ARMS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
IN REAFFIRMING OUR HERITAGE
AS A FREE NATION, WE MUST
REMEMBER THAT AMERICA HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A FRONTIER
NATION.
NOW WE MUST EMBRACE THE NEXT
FRONTIER.
AMERICA'S MANIFEST DESTINY
IN THE STARS.
I'M ASKING CONGRESS TO FULLY
FUND THE ARDIMUS PROGRAM TO
MAKE SURE THE NEXT MAN AND
FIRST WOMAN ON THE MOON
USING THIS AS A LAUNCHING
PAD TO ENSURE THAT THE
AMERICA IS THE FIRST NATION
TO PLANT ITS FLAG ON MARS.
[APPLAUSE]
MY ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO
STRONG GLING DEFENDING OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY AND
COMBATING RADICAL ISLAM
TERRORISM.
[APPLAUSE]
LAST WEEK I ANNOUNCED A
GROUND BREAKING PLAN FOR
PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE
PALESTINIANS, RECOGNIZING
THAT ALL PAST ASETTLEMENTS
HAVE FAILED.
WE MUST BE DETERMINED AND
CREATIVE IN ORDER TO
STABILIZE THE REGION AND
GIVE MILLIONS OF YOUNG
PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO REALIZE
A BETTER FUTURE.
THREE YEARS AGO THE
BARBARIANS OF ISIS HELD OVER
20,000 SQUARE MILES OF
TERRITORY IN IRAQ AND SYRIA.
TODAY THE ISIS TERRITORIAL
CALIPHATE HAS BEEN
100 PERCENT DESTROYED AND
THE FOUNDER AND LEADER OF
ISIS, THE BLOODTHIRSTY
KILLER KNOWN AS AL BAGHDADI
IS DEAD.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
WE ARE JOINED THIS
EVENING BY KARL AND MARCIA
MURIEL.
AFTER GRADUATING FROM
COLLEGE THEIR BEAUTIFUL
DAUGHTER KAYLA BECAME A
HUMANITARIAN AID WORKER.
SHE ONCE WROTE SOME PEOPLE
FIND GOD IN CHURCH.
SOME PEOPLE FIND GOD IN
NATURE.
SOME PEOPLE FIND GOD IN
LOVE.
I FIND GOD IN SUFFERING.
I HAVE KNOWN FOR SOME TIME
WHAT MY LIFE'S WORK IS.
USING MY HANDS AS TOOLS TO
RELIEVE SUFFERING.
IN 2013, WHILE CARING FOR
SUFFERING CIVILIANS IN
SYRIA, KAYLA WAS KIDNAPPED,
TORTURED AND ENSLAVED BY
ISIS AND KEPT AS A PRISONER
OF AL-BAGHDADI HIMSELF.
AFTER MORE THAN 500
HORRIFYING DAYS OF
CAPTIVITY, AL-BAGHDADI
MURDERED YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL
KAYLA.
SHE WAS JUST 26 YEARS OLD.
ON THE NIGHT THAT U.S.
SPECIAL FORCES OPERATIONS
ENDED AL-BAGHDADI'S
MISERABLE LIFE THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
GENERAL MARK MILLE RECEIVED
A CALL IN THE SITUATION
ROOM.
HE WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAVE
MEN OF THE ELITE SPECIAL
FORCES TEAM THAT SO
PERFECTLY CARRIED OUT OF THE
OPERATION HAD GIVEN THEIR
MISSION A NAME TASK FORCE
814.
IT WAS A REFERENCE TO A
SPECIAL DAY AUGUST 14TH,
KAYLA'S BIRTHDAY.
CARL AND MARSHA'S AMERICA'S
WARRIORS NEVER FORGOT KAYLA
AND NEITHER WILL WE.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
EVERY DAY AMERICA'S MEN AND
WOMEN IN UNIFORM DEMONSTRATE
THE INFINITE DEPTH OF LOVE
THAT DWELLS IN THE HUMAN
HEART.
ONE OF THESE AMERICAN HEROES
WAS ARMY STAFF SERGEANT
CHRISTOPHER HAKE.
ON HIS SECOND DEPLOYMENT TO
IRAQ IN 2008, SERGEANT HAKE
WROTE A LETTER TO HIS
1-YEAR-OLD SON GAGE.
I WILL BE WITH YOU AGAIN, HE
WROTE TO GAGE.
I WILL TEACH YOU TO RIDE
YOUR FIRST BIKE, BUILD YOUR
FIRST SANDBOX, WATCH YOU
PLAY SPORTS, AND SEE YOU
HAVE KIDS, ALSO.
I LOVE YOU, SON.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR MOTHER.
I AM ALWAYS WITH YOU, DADDY.
ON EASTER SUNDAY OF 2008,
CHRIS WAS OUT ON PATROL IN
BAGHDAD WHEN HIS BRADLEY
FIGHTING VEHICLE WAS HIT BY
A ROADSIDE BOMB.
THAT NIGHT HE MADE THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR
COUNTRY.
SERGEANT HAKE NOW RESTS IN
ETERNAL GLORY IN ARLINGTON
AND HIS WIFE KELLI IS IN THE
GALLERY TONIGHT JOINED BY
THEIR SON WHO IS NOW A
13-YEAR-OLD AND DOING VERY,
VERY WELL.
TO KELLI AND GAGE, CHRIS
WILL LIVE IN OUR HEARTS
FOREVER.
HE IS LOOKING DOWN ON YOU
NOW.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.
THE TERRORISTS RESPONSIBLE
FOR KILLING SERGEANT HAKE
WAS QASSEM SOLEIMANI WHO
PROVIDED A DEADLY ROADSIDE
BOMB THAT TOOK CHRIS' LIFE.
SOLEIMANI WAS THE IRANIAN
REGIME'S MOST RUTHLESS
BUTCHER, A MONSTER WHO
MURDERED OR WOUNDED
THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN
SERVICE MEMBERS IN IRAQ.
AS THE WORLD'S TOP TERRORIST
SOLEIMANI ORCHESTRATED THE
DEATHS OF COUNTLESS MEN,
WOMEN, AND CHILDREN.
HE DIRECTED THE DECEMBER
ASSAULT AND WENT ON TO
ASSAULT U.S. FORCES IN IRAQ,
WAS ACTIVELY PLANNING NEW
ATTACKS WHEN WE HIT HIM VERY
HARD.
AND THAT'S WHY LAST MONTH AT
MY DIRECTION THE U.S.
MILITARY EXECUTED A FLAWLESS
PRECISION STRIKE THAT KILLED
SOLEIMANI AND TERMINATED HIS
EVIL REIGN OF TERROR
FOREVER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
OUR MESSAGE TO THE TERRORIST
IS CLEAR.
YOU WILL NEVER ESCAPE
AMERICAN JUSTICE.
IF YOU ATTACK OUR CITIZENS,
YOU FORFEIT YOUR LIFE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
IN RECENT MONTHS, WE HAVE
SEEN PROUD IRANIANS RAISE
THEIR VOICES AGAINST THEIR
OPPRESSIVE RULERS.
THE IRANIAN REGIME MUST
ABANDON ITS PURSUIT OF
NUCLEAR WEAPONS, STOP
SPREADING TERROR, DEATH, AND
DESTRUCTION AND START
WORKING FOR THE GOOD OF ITS
OWN PEOPLE.
BECAUSE OF OUR POWERFUL
SANCTIONS THE IRANIAN
ECONOMY IS DOING VERY, VERY
POORLY.
WE CAN HELP THEM MAKE A VERY
GOOD AND SHORT TIME
RECOVERY.
IT CAN ALL GO VERY QUICKLY
BUT PERHAPS THEY ARE TOO
PROUD OR TOO FOOLISH TO ASK
FOR THAT HELP.
WE ARE HERE.
LET'S SEE WHICH ROAD THEY
CHOOSE.
IT IS TOTALLY UP TO THEM.
[APPLAUSE]
AS WE DEFEND AMERICAN LIVES,
WE ARE WORKING TO END
AMERICA'S WARS IN THE MIDDLE
EAST, IN AFGHANISTAN, THE
DETERMINATION AND VALOR OF
OUR WAR FIGHTERS HAS ALLOWED
US TO MAKE TREMENDOUS PRO
AND PEACE TALKS ARE NOW
UNDERWAY.
I AM NOT LOOKING TO KILL
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN AFGHANISTAN.
MANY OF THEM TOTALLY
INNOCENT.
IT IS ALSO NOT OUR FUNCTION
TO SERVE OUR NATIONS AS LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
THESE ARE WAR FIGHTERS THAT
WE HAVE, THE BEST IN THE
WORLD.
AND THEY EITHER WANT TO
FIGHT TO WIN OR NOT FIGHT AT
ALL.
WE ARE WORKING TO FINALLY
END AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR
AND BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
HOME.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
WAR PLACE AS HEAVY BURDEN ON
OUR NATION'S MILITARY
FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY SPOUSES
LIKE AMY WILLIAMS FROM FORT
BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA AND
HER TWO CHILDREN 6-YEAR-OLD
AND 4-YEAR-OLD ROWAN.
AMY WORKS FULL TIME AND
WORKS COUNTLESS HOURS
HELPING OTHER FILTER
FAMILIES.
FOR THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS
SHE HAS DONE IT ALL WHILE
HER HUSBAND SERGEANT FIRST
CLASS TOWNSEND WILLIAMS IS
IN AFGHANISTAN ON FOURTH
DEPLOYMENT IN THE MIDDLE
EAST.
AMY'S KIDS HAVEN'T SEEN
THEIR FATHER'S FACE IN MANY
MONTHS.
AMY, YOUR FAMILY'S SACRIFICE
MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL OF
OUR FAMILIES TO LIVE IN
SAFETY AND IN PEACE AND WE
WANT TO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, AMY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
BUT, AMY, THERE IS ONE MORE
THING.
TONIGHT WE HAVE A VERY
SPECIAL SURPRISE.
I AM THRILLED TO INFORM YOU
THAT YOUR HUSBAND IS BACK
FROM DEPLOYMENT.
HE IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT
AND WE COULDN'T KEEP HIM
WAITING ANY LONGER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHANTING U.S.A.]
[CHANTING U.S.A.]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WELCOME HOME SERGEANT
WILLIAMS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AS THE WORLD BEARS WITNESS
TONIGHT, AMERICA IS A LAND
OF HEROES.
THIS IS A PLACE WHERE
GREATNESS IS BORN, WHERE
DESTINIES ARE FORGED AND
WHERE LEGENDS COME TO LIFE.
THIS IS THE HOME OF THOMAS
EDISON AND TEDDY ROOSEVELT
OF MANY GREAT GENERALS
INCLUDING WASHINGTON,
PERSHING, PATENT AND
MCARTHUR.
HOME OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS,
AIL HART.
WRIGHT BROTHERS, NEIL
ARMSTRONG AND SO MANY MORE.
THIS IS THE COUNTRY WHERE
CHILDREN LEARN NAMES LIKE
WYATT ERP, DAVY CROCKETT AND
ANNIE OAKLEY.
THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE THE
PILGRIMS LANDED AT PLYMOUTH
AND WHERE TEXAS PATRIOTS
MADE THEIR LAST STAND AT THE
ALAMO.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL
ALAMO.
THE AMERICAN NATION WAS
CARVED OUT OF THE VAST
FRONTIER BY THE TOUGHEST,
STRONGEST, FIERCEST AND MOST
DETERMINED MEN AND WOMEN
EVER TO WALK ON THE FACE OF
THE EARTH.
OUR ANCESTORS BRAVED THE
UNKNOWN, TAMED THE
WILDERNESS, SETTLED THE WILD
WEST, LIFTED MILLIONS FROM
POVERTY, DISEASE AND HUNGER
VANQUISHED TYRANNY AND
FASCISM.
ISSUE EVERYWHERED THE WORLD
OF NEW HEIGHTS OF SCIENCE
AND MEDICINE, LAID DOWN THE
RAILROADS, DUG OUT THE
CANALS, RAISED UP THE
SKYSCRAPERS AND, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, OUR ANCESTORS
BUILT THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL
REPUBLIC EVER TO EXIST IN
ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY, AND WE
ARE MAKING IT GREATER THAN
EVER BEFORE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
THIS IS OUR GLORIOUS AND
MAGNIFICENT INHERITANCE.
WE ARE AMERICANS.
WE ARE PIONEERS.
WE ARE THE PATHFINDERS.
WE SETTLED THE NEW WORLD.
WE BUILT THE MODERN WORLD.
AND WE CHANGED HISTORY
FOREVER BY EMBRACING THE
ETERNAL TRUTH THAT EVERYONE
IS MADE EQUAL BY THE HAND OF
ALMIGHTY GOD.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AMERICA IS THE PLACE WHERE
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
AMERICA IS THE PLACE WHERE
ANYONE CAN RISE AND HERE, ON
THIS LAND, ON THIS SOIL, ON
THIS CONTINENT, THE MOST
INCREDIBLE DREAMS COME TRUE.
THIS NATION IS OUR CANVAS,
AND THIS COUNTRY IS OUR
MASTERPIECE.
WE LOOK AT TOMORROW AND WE
SEE UNLIMITED FRONTIERS JUST
WAITING TO BE EXPLORED.
OUR BRIGHTEST DISCOVERIES
ARE NOT YET KNOWN.
OUR MOST THRILLING STORIES
ARE NOT YET TOLD.
OUR GRANDEST JOURNEYS ARE
NOT YET MADE.
THE AMERICAN AGE, THE
AMERICAN EPIC, THE AMERICAN
ADVENTURE HAS ONLY JUST
BEGUN.
OUR SPIRIT IS STILL YOUNG.
THE SUN IS STILL RISING.
GOD'S GRACE IS STILL SHINING
AND MY FELLOW AMERICANS, THE
BEST IS YET TO COME.
THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU,
AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Bill: ONE HOUR AND 15
MINUTES ON THE CLOCK.
THERE WERE A LOT OF MOMENTS
IN THIS SPEECH AND WE WILL
GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF THEM
INCLUDING THE ONE YOU SAW AT
THE END THERE WHERE SPEAKER
NANCY PELOSI APPEARED TO
TAKE THE SPEECH IN HER HAND
AND RIP IT IN HALF.
WOW.
THERE WERE A FEW MORE
STUNNING MOMENTS ALSO A
MOMENT AGO SEEING A SERVICE
MEMBER SAY HELLO TO HIS WIFE
AND CHILDREN.
CHANTS OF U.S.A. UP IN THE
GALLERY.
AND IF YOU GO TO THE MOMENT
THAT BEGAN THE NIGHT, THAT
WILL BE TALKED ABOUT BY
MANY, NOT JUST THAT WHAT WE
SAW BY SPEAKER PELOSI.
HOUSE MEMBERS THEIR WAY OUT.
THERE WAS A MOMENT IN THE
BEGINNING THAT HAPPENED WHEN
PRESIDENT TRUMP PICKED UP
THE SPEECH AND HANDED IT TO
SPEAKER PELOSI.
SHE APPEARED TO REACH HER
HAND OUT TO HIM BUT IT DID
NOT HAPPEN.
THERE WAS NO HANDSHAKE.
NOW, IN ABOUT 17 HOURS, THE
U.S. SENATE IS GOING TO VOTE
ON TWO ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT.
THE PRESIDENT EXPECTED TO BE
ACQUITTED ON THAT.
HE DID NOT EVEN MENTION THE
WORD TONIGHT.
WHAT WAS STUNNING TO THIS
OBSERVER WAS THE BODY
LANGUAGE IN THE CHAMBER.
DURING SO MANY MOMENTS
REPUBLICANS WERE SOMETIMES
JOYOUS DEMOCRATS CLEARLY
EXPRESSING THEIR DISDAIN AND
OBVIOUS POLITICAL AND
SOMETIMES PERSONAL DIVIDE IN
WASHINGTON WAS CLEAR AND
EVIDENT TONIGHT.
FOR THE PRESIDENT, HIS JOB
WAS CLEAR, SELL THE ECONOMY.
HIS KEY LINES IN THE
BEGINNING THE YEARS OF
ECONOMIC DECAY ARE OVER.
THIS IS A BLUE COLLAR BOOM.
SIGNED TRADE DEALS WITH
MEXICO, CANADA AND CHINA.
UNLIKE OTHERS, WE DID OUR
JOB.
WE ARE ABOUT NINE MONTHS
FROM AN ELECTION WITH TENS
OF MILLIONS WATCHING TONIGHT
AND THIS WAS A BIG STAGE FOR
THAT CAMPAIGN TO BEGIN FOR
THE WHITE HOUSE.
WE WILL GET THE DEMOCRATIC
RESPONSE IN A FEW MINUTES,
BUT, BEFORE THAT STARTS, WE
HAVE GOT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES
BACK WITH OUR TEAM NOW,
MARIA HARF FORMER
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE OBAMA
STATE DEPARTMENT.
MOLLIE HEMINGWAY, ARI
FLEISCHER FORMER WHITE HOUSE
PRESS SECRETARY FOR
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH.
ARI, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU
TO RATE IT AND HOW IT WENT.
BUT THAT MOMENT AT THE END
WHERE SPEAKER PELOSI TOOK
THE SPEECH AND THE PAPER IN
FRONT OF HER AND RIPPED IT
IN HALF IS SOMETHING THAT
CERTAINLY WILL BE TALKED
ABOUT.
GO AHEAD AND GRADE IT.
WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT?
WHAT DID WE JUST WATCH IN
HERE, ARI?
>> BILL, HERE IS MY TAKE.
WE LIVE IN A VERY POLARIZED
ERA AND THE PRESIDENT
TYPICALLY PLAYS TO HIS BASE.
THIS IS A SPEECH WHERE HE
TRIED TO RISE ABOVE HIS BASE
AND BE INCLUSIVE.
HE TALKED ABOUT A BLUE
COLLAR BOON.
HE TALKED ABOUT
INCLUSIVENESS AND
PARTICULARLY THIS WAS A
SPEECH DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO
AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
HE TALKED ABOUT EXPLICITLY
THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, CIVIL
RIGHTS, MARTIN LUTHER KING,
SELMA, HISTORICALLY BLACK
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES,
FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND
HARRIET TUBMAN, THAT WAS
DIRECT APPEAL ELECTION YEAR
TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
VOTE.
AND I DO WANT TO POINT OUT
TRUMP DOUBLED MCCAIN'S VOTE
AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN A
33% MORE OF THE VOTE THAN
MITT ROMNEY.
IS HE TRYING FOR DOUBLE
DIGITS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF THAT IN
THE SPEECH TONIGHT.
>> Bill: I'M GOING TO TRY TO
GET EVERYBODY IN BEFORE WE
HEAR FROM THE DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR FROM MICHIGAN.
MOLLIE HEMINGWAY, FRAME WHAT
YOU HEARD TONIGHT FOR THE
PAST HOUR AND 15 MINUTES.
>> WELL, THAT WAS A
MASTERFUL SPEECH FROM
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
HE WAS ABLE TO GO THROUGH
HOW THE SUCCESSES OF THE
ECONOMY, BIPARTISAN
SUCCESSES THAT HE HAD HAD.
HE WAS GENEROUS WITH
CONGRESS INSOFAR AS THEY
CONTRIBUTED TO THAT AND HE
REALLY ARTICULATED A RETURN
TO AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
WHERE THERE IS STRENGTH, BUT
RESTRAINT.
SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T REALLY
SEEN HENCE REAGAN BUT GOES
ALL THE WAY BACK TO
EISENHOWER AND WE HAD HAD A
BRIEF DETOUR OF THAT IN
RECENT ADMINISTRATIONS.
AND THINKING THROUGH THE
COST OF WAR, WHICH WAS ONE
OF THOSE INTERESTING THINGS.
AND HOW MUCH FAMILIES HAVE
TO PAY WHEN WE HAVE WAR
FIGHTERS IN FOREIGN LANDS ON
EXTENDED TOURS.
AND THAT IS THE -- IT'S KIND
OF A MASTERFUL ELECTION YEAR
SPEECH.
AND IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED HOW
SMALL DEMOCRATS SEEM.
IT'S JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT
TODAY IS ONE OF THE WORST
DAYS DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD IN
THIS ADMINISTRATION ALSO ONE
OF THE BEST DAYS PRESIDENT
TRUMP HAS HAD.
IT WAS HARD TO IGNORE THAT
DISPARITY AND WATCHING
PEOPLE WHO HAD TO
STRUGGLE -- WHO WANTED TO
STAY SILENT IN THEIR SEATS
BUT IT LOOKED VERY WEIRD TO
SEE THEM SITTING SILENTLY AS
AMERICAN HEROES WERE
BEING --
>> Bill: LET ME BOUNCE
COMMENTARY OFF MARIA HARF
IT'S BEEN A TOUGH 24 HOURS
IF YOU GO BACK TO THE IOWA
CAUCUSES.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE
REACTION OF DEMOCRATS ON
BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER MAYBE
SPEAKER PELOSI WENT IN
TONIGHT?
>> THE PRESIDENT CERTAINLY
KNOWS HOW TO PUT ON A SHOW.
HE DID THAT TONIGHT.
THE PERSONAL STORIES WERE
QUITE TOUCHING.
THEY WERE USED TO
ILLUSTRATE, I THINK, REALLY
IMPORTANT POLICY QUESTIONS.
BUT, THE PRESIDENT -- I
DISAGREE WITH ARI HERE.
I ACTUALLY THINK THIS IS ONE
OF THE MOST PARTISAN STATE
OF THE UNION SPEECHES I HAVE
EVER HEARD.
IT IS CLEAR THAT WE ARE IN
AN ELECTION YEAR, BILL.
AND WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT
IMMIGRATION, WHEN HE TALKED
ABOUT HEALTHCARE AND
MEDICARE FOR ALL, LANGUAGE
HE USED IN THE STATE OF THE
UNION TONIGHT WAS QUITE
PARTISAN, ACTUALLY I THINK
MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HE
HAS USED IN PAST STATE OF
THE UNION SPEECHES.
AND IT'S CLEAR THAT HE WAS
USING THIS AS A KICKOFF TO
THIS ELECTION SEASON.
I THINK WE HAVEN'T SEEN
WASHINGTON MUCH MORE
POLARIZED THAN IT IS RIGHT
NOW.
HE REALLY PLAYED INTO THAT
TONIGHT.
>> Bill: JONATHAN, A LOT OF
THESE MOMENTS TONIGHT WERE
SURPRISES TO MANY OF US AND
YOU HAVE BEEN TRACKING THE
MOVEMENTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE
THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
HOW MANY OF THESE MOMENTS
WERE A SURPRISE TO YOU?
>> WELL, WE HAD HEARD ABOUT
JUAN GUAIDO AND WE HAD HEARD
ABOUT RUSH LIMBAUGH.
I DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS
ACTUALLY GOING TO GET
AWARDED THE MEDAL IN THE
ACTUAL CHAMBER.
THAT ONE SURPRISED ME.
BUT, I THOUGHT THE REUNITING
OF THE SOLDIER WITH HIS
FAMILY WAS, IN TERMS OF AN
EMOTIONAL HIGH POINT OF THE
SPEECH, THAT REALLY -- IT
WAS A SURPRISE I DIDN'T KNOW
ABOUT THAT.
BUT THAT WAS TO ME.
BUT JUST TO PICK UP ON
MARIA'S POINT, LOOK, I
THOUGHT WHAT TRUMP DID WAS
HE PICKED THE.
>> Bill: JONATHAN, I HAVE
GOT THE GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN
COMING UP.
IT'S OKAY.
JUST GIVE ME 10 SECONDS AND
A QUICK ONE ON THAT, OKAY?
>> FREE HEALTHCARE FOR
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS,
ABOLISHING PRIVATE HEALTH
INSURANCE, AND LATE TERM
ABORTION.
THEY ARE THE ISSUES HE
PICKED AS WEDGE ISSUES AND
HE RAMMED THEM HARD.
>> Bill: GOOD EVENING.
THE GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN
GRETCHEN WHITMER WITH THE
MICROPHONE.
>> GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT
STATE OF MICHIGAN.
TONIGHT I'M AT MY DAUGHTER
SHERRI AND SYDNEY'S PUBLIC
SCHOOL EAST LANSING HIGH
SCHOOL.
WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH
FAMILIES AND PARENTS,
TEACHERS AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY STUDENTS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
COMING.
BUT TONIGHT I'M GOING TO
TALK TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
WATCHING AT HOME.
I NEED A LOT MORE THAN 10
MINUTES TO RESPOND TO WHAT
THE PRESIDENT JUST SAID SO
INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT
WHAT HE IS SAYING, I'M GOING
TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT DEMOCRATS
ARE DOING.
AFTER ALL, YOU CAN LISTEN TO
WHAT SOMEONE SAYS.
BUT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, WATCH
WHAT THEY DO.
MICHIGANERS ARE NO DIFFERENT
FROM AMERICANS EVERYWHERE.
WE LOVE OUR FAMILIES AND
WANT A GOOD LIFE TODAY AND A
BETTER LIFE TOMORROW FOR OUR
KIDS.
WE WORK HARD AND WE EXPECT
OUR GOVERNMENT TO WORK HARD
FOR US AS WELL.
WE HAVE GRIT AND VALUE
LOYALTY.
AND WE STILL ROOT FOR THE
DETROIT LIONS.
[LAUGHTER]
WE AND ALL AMERICANS MIGHT
BE WEARY OF TODAY'S POLITICS
BUT WE MUST STAY ENGAGED.
OUR COUNTRY, OUR DEMOCRACY,
OUR FUTURE DEMAND IT.
WE'RE CAPABLE OF GREAT
THINGS WHEN WE WORK
TOGETHER.
WE CANNOT FORGET THAT
DESPITE THE DISHONESTY AND
DIVISION OF THE LAST FEW
YE
