America 250: "Salute to America" on National Mall

[0:00] Salute to America, getting underway now. [0:02] Now, if you'll do me the great honor, please join me in God bless America. [5:00] 47th president of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump. [11:35] America, if you think that was easy, it wasn't. [12:51] I want to thank everybody because they did the right thing. [12:59] They saw a lightning, and I said there's no way if we have to speak in front of one person [13:05] at four o'clock in the morning, I'm going to be here. [13:07] There's no way we can be deterred. [13:14] And they estimated they had 375,000 people before everybody had to leave, [13:20] and they now have 150,000 people. [13:24] It's the craziest thing anyone's ever seen, at least. [13:29] And I want to just thank you, and I feel so badly about some people. [13:33] They left and they couldn't get back. [13:35] But you're very special people, and we have a very special country. [13:40] Thank you very much. [13:41] Tonight we come together for one of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time, [13:49] the 12th, and you know what that is, 250, the 250th anniversary. [13:55] And I do have to say this. [13:57] One of my very brilliant people backstage said, [13:59] don't worry about it, sir. [14:00] We can do it maybe next week. [14:02] I said, it doesn't work next week. [14:04] This is the big day. [14:05] We want July 4th. [14:08] We're not looking for July something else, [14:10] because this is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. [14:18] Nothing like it. [14:23] For two and a half centuries, our American republic has stood as the crowning achievement of human history. [14:30] This country is the home of freedom. [14:35] This is the land of liberty. [14:37] And this is a flag that's the banner of the most extraordinary, [14:42] most exceptional, most incredible nation ever to exist on the face of the earth. [14:48] And we're doing better now than we've ever done before. [14:51] No people have done more good, shown more courage, made more progress, [15:01] righted more injustice, or achieved more greatness than you, the American people. [15:07] For 250 years, the United States of America has been the hope, the promise, the light, [15:15] and the glory among all of the nations of the world. [15:18] All over the world, they try and be like us. [15:20] Nobody can be like us. [15:22] And with God's help, we will always be this or even better. [15:27] We're going to be better. [15:32] Here on our National Mall, we're celebrating freedom's triumph over tyranny, [15:39] liberty's conquest over oppression, [15:41] and the enduring victory of the American spirit from the July 4th, 1776, [15:48] to July 4th, 2026. [15:52] Big dates. [15:53] That's big dates. [15:54] Two big ones. [15:55] And tonight, our country is stronger, freer, richer, safer, and prouder than ever before. [16:03] But it all started with the miracle of history that lives forever in the heart of every single patriot. [16:14] In Philadelphia, our founding fathers summoned the courage of giants and the wisdom of centuries [16:20] to boldly proclaim these timeless truths. [16:25] They declared that all men are created equal, [16:29] that they are endowed with sacred, unalienable rights by the hand of our creator, [16:39] and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. [16:48] In signing their names to the roster of freedom, those 56 patriots put everything at risk, [16:56] stepped onto the stage of destiny, and seized a victory for the ages. [17:01] And that's what it was. [17:02] And this is an evening for the ages, I believe. [17:04] This is something very special. [17:07] This is bigger than if we didn't have the lightning blaring. [17:11] We had lightning blaring. [17:13] But this is bigger. [17:15] A little more inconvenient, but it's bigger. [17:18] I think in its own way, it's more beautiful. [17:21] From the beginning, we were a nation that lived by the motto, [17:24] victory or death, and live free or die. [17:28] One out of every 100 Americans gave their lives in the fight for independence [17:36] to remind us of who these heroes were and what they gave us. [17:43] We are honored to have here tonight, in the heart of our nation's capital, [17:47] one of the very first American flags ever to exist. [17:52] Dating back to 1777, [17:55] it bears the 13 stars and 13 stripes of the 13 states [18:01] that declared independence on the 4th of July. [18:12] There it is. [18:13] This was the flag that flew victorious at Saratoga. [18:18] And these are the real deals, too. [18:20] These are the real flags. [18:23] These are flags that have seen a lot. [18:25] These were the stars and stripes that flew triumphant [18:28] when the British waved the white flag of surrender at Yorktown. [18:33] That was a big surrender. [18:35] Nobody thought that was possible. [18:38] They were the greatest power of the world, [18:39] and they surrendered, and that was the beginning. [18:43] Ever since, the entire world has been unnoticed [18:45] that Americans will never let anyone take our freedom away. [18:49] Won't happen. [18:51] And all these talks from the communists, [18:54] they haven't got a chance. [18:56] Not even a chance. [18:58] We don't want communists in our country. [19:00] It never worked, and it never will work. [19:14] Americans must never forget that we are a historic and heroic people [19:18] with a heroic spirit and a heroic purpose [19:21] on this beautiful earth of ours. [19:25] We are made the courage and the fire and the flesh and the blood [19:29] of the best and the bravest people this world has ever produced. [19:33] We are the bravest and the best. [19:36] Tonight we pledge allegiance to the flag they gave us, [19:38] and we say God bless the immortal patriots of 1776, [19:44] and long live the cause of independence. [19:47] May it rain forever and ever and ever. [19:56] We will always be on top. [19:58] We will never let our country fall. [20:02] We will always be the best. [20:03] Our founders not only won our liberty, [20:06] they secured it with the most righteous political document ever conceived. [20:11] It's called the Constitution of the United States. [20:14] Very special. [20:17] And it's because of their genius [20:19] that we remain the finest people on the planet after 250 years. [20:25] Unlike so many others in the world, [20:28] in this country we have freedom of speech, [20:31] freedom of religion, [20:33] equal justice under the law, [20:36] although I wasn't treated that well, [20:37] but we won't get into that, [20:40] and the right to keep and bear arms. [20:50] And for the almost six years that I was president, [20:53] I guarded very, very powerfully your Second Amendment, [20:58] and they didn't do a thing to it, [21:00] and it was not easy. [21:02] But we guard your Second Amendment. [21:04] We guard it very, very strongly and cautiously. [21:11] Across the generations, [21:12] Americans have fought, bled, and died, [21:15] not just to secure those rights, [21:17] but to expand them to citizens of every race, religion, color, and creed. [21:23] Because we are one people. [21:26] We are one family. [21:28] You showed that tonight with one flag. [21:31] And as our Declaration of Independence tells us, [21:36] we are all made in the image of one almighty God. [21:49] And a communist will never say that. [21:52] That's for sure. [21:53] Few heroes remind us of these truths, [21:57] more than William Carney, [21:59] who escaped slavery to become a Union soldier in the Civil War, [22:03] which was a very big, big deal at the time. [22:07] On the front lines of battle, [22:08] he saw a comrade struck down by enemy fire [22:12] while carrying the stars and stripes, [22:15] and Sergeant Carney dove to the ground [22:18] to keep the flag from touching the mud. [22:20] He didn't want to have it touch the ground. [22:22] He didn't want to have it touch the mud. [22:25] He wanted it to be perfect. [22:28] He raised it high above the field [22:30] and was shot four times. [22:32] They thought he was gone, [22:33] but he kept moving forward. [22:36] He loved our country. [22:37] He loved our flag. [22:38] Before he returned to camp and announced, [22:41] boys, the old flag never touched the ground. [22:44] And he became the first African-American [22:49] to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. [22:53] He got the Congressional Medal of Honor. [22:55] And he was the first African-American. [22:59] And he was some man. [23:02] They've written stories about him. [23:05] He was something special. [23:07] With us tonight to celebrate this forward march of freedom [23:11] is another Medal of Honor recipient, [23:14] Colonel Paris Davis, [23:15] whose courage won eternal glory in Vietnam. [23:19] He helped lead a surprise attack [23:22] on 100 enemy combatants. [23:25] They said he was finished. [23:26] His whole group was finished. [23:28] And despite multiple life-threatening wounds, [23:33] saved the lives of his fellow soldiers. [23:37] And this evening, he stands to salute [23:39] the only flag of its kind, [23:41] the one that was draped over the casket [23:44] of President Abraham Lincoln [23:46] in Independence Hall. [23:48] Thank you very much. [23:51] Great. [23:51] He looks better than I do. [24:24] He looks great. [24:25] And he's brave. [24:28] Because of heroes like these, [24:30] our flag will always be a symbol of liberty [24:33] and justice for all. [24:36] Colonel Davis, thank you very much. [24:38] Great man. [24:40] Great man. [24:41] Thank you. [24:44] Americans expanded the blessings of freedom, [24:48] and we have never stopped expanding [24:49] our ambitions and our dreams. [24:52] We had the American dream. [24:55] We never had the American dream, [24:57] however, like we have it right now. [24:59] The American dream is back. [25:01] Very strong. [25:02] Beautiful. [25:02] You know, to get into our military now is tough. [25:06] Two years ago, we couldn't fill a job, [25:09] and now it's overflowing. [25:11] We have so many setting records. [25:13] We're setting records. [25:15] It's actually hard to get in. [25:17] That includes our great police forces [25:20] and our firemen. [25:22] They couldn't hire anybody. [25:23] Nobody wanted to do it. [25:24] Now it's hard to get those positions, [25:27] but it's really hard to get into our military [25:30] because people respect and love our country again. [25:37] Our rise to being the world's strongest [25:39] and most powerful nation [25:40] was no accident of history. [25:43] We rebuilt our military in my first term. [25:47] We used it a little bit in our, [25:50] actually, I should say third term, [25:51] but I won't do that [25:52] because I don't want any controversy. [25:53] But we use it, [25:56] and we've had tremendous success. [25:58] You look at Venezuela. [25:59] You look at Iran. [26:01] We wiped it out. [26:02] Wiped out their military. [26:04] Americans crossed the Great Plains, [26:07] scaled the Rockies, [26:08] tamed the wilderness [26:11] and conquered the frontier [26:13] and built the empire. [26:15] It's called the Empire of Liberty. [26:18] We laid down the railroads, [26:20] raised up the skyscrapers, [26:22] those beautiful skyscrapers, [26:24] and dug out the Panama Canal, [26:27] considered the eighth wonder of the world, [26:29] which everyone said [26:30] was an impossible thing to do. [26:32] And by the way, [26:34] 38,000 Americans died [26:36] to give us [26:37] one of the greatest engineering feats [26:39] of all time, the Panama Canal. [26:42] This was the unstoppable spirit [26:44] that created the world's [26:46] most powerful industries [26:47] and built the strongest military [26:51] anyone had ever seen. [26:53] And today, it is stronger [26:55] and more powerful [26:56] than it ever was before. [26:58] American grit, boldness, [27:01] and daring forged heroes [27:03] like Davy Crockett, [27:04] Wyatt Earp, [27:06] Annie Oakley, [27:07] Teddy Roosevelt, [27:08] and the legend [27:09] of the Wild West, [27:11] Buffalo Bill Cody. [27:13] These were great, [27:15] powerful people [27:15] whose incredible grandchildren [27:18] happened to be with us tonight. [27:21] and they stand alongside [27:23] one of the first American flags [27:25] ever to fly over [27:26] our expanding nation. [27:28] It was carried west [27:29] just as Lewis and Clark [27:31] began their journey [27:32] in 1803. [27:35] Thank you very much. [27:36] Thank you. [27:37] Thank you very much. [27:39] Great to have you. [27:41] Great to have you. [27:43] to honor this audacious [27:45] and indomitable soul of America. [27:49] We also have the first flag [27:51] ever to fly over, [27:52] one of the greatest architectural feats [27:54] of all time, [27:56] a thing called the Brooklyn Bridge, [27:57] one of the most beautiful bridges [27:59] anywhere in the world, [28:01] built a long time ago. [28:03] To its right, [28:04] the banner that flew atop our flagship [28:06] after America's Navy sank [28:08] the Spanish fleet [28:10] to the bottom of the Manila Bay, [28:11] one of the greatest [28:12] naval victories in history, [28:15] much like our recent victory [28:16] by sinking the entire [28:18] Iranian Navy, [28:19] 159 ships [28:20] to the bottom of the sea, [28:22] all done in just [28:23] a moment's time. [28:25] Happened very quickly. [28:27] We have the greatest military [28:28] anywhere in the world. [28:31] And next to it, [28:31] we also have the flag [28:33] that was given to [28:34] that immortal, [28:35] just a fantastic, [28:38] immortal rough rider, [28:39] the one and only, [28:41] and I was at the museum [28:42] the other day [28:43] at its opening, [28:45] Theodore Roosevelt, [28:47] when he returned triumphant [28:48] from Cuba, [28:50] printed with the words, [28:51] welcome home, [28:52] Colonel Roosevelt, [28:54] who's the victor [28:54] of San Juan Hill. [28:57] He was a great gentleman. [28:59] Americans won the West [29:00] and built the modern world [29:02] because America [29:03] is a nation of winners. [29:05] And today, [29:06] our country is winning again, [29:08] and we're winning [29:09] like never before. [29:10] America is back [29:13] and we want to keep [29:14] America great [29:15] and we will do so [29:17] by approving [29:18] the Save America Act, [29:20] which means [29:21] all voters must show [29:22] voter ID. [29:24] All voters, [29:25] all voters must provide [29:31] a little thing called [29:33] proof of citizenship [29:35] and there will be [29:39] no mail-in ballots [29:40] except for illness, [29:41] disability, [29:42] military deployment [29:43] or travel. [29:44] And you won't have cheating [29:48] on the elections anymore. [29:50] It's very simple. [29:51] Together, [29:52] we are also [29:53] reasserting the truth [29:54] that American strength [29:56] and power [29:57] is not something [29:58] to be ashamed of. [30:00] It is something [30:00] that we are very, [30:02] very proud of. [30:04] This country [30:04] has been the greatest force [30:06] for peace [30:06] and justice on Earth. [30:08] In the last century, [30:09] we defeated tyrants, [30:11] demolished evil, [30:12] and saved freedom [30:13] again and again and again. [30:18] Ken Shubring [30:19] was 19 years old [30:21] when he survived [30:22] the Japanese attack [30:23] on Pearl Harbor. [30:25] After enemy planes [30:26] sank ships [30:27] like the USS Arizona, [30:29] he resolved [30:30] that he would help [30:31] America strike back [30:33] and win. [30:34] He wanted them [30:34] to strike back [30:36] and win. [30:37] Flying B-29s [30:39] in the Pacific, [30:40] Ken fought [30:41] from the first day [30:42] to the very last. [30:45] He was in the war [30:45] right from the first day [30:47] and he went [30:48] to the last day [30:49] and all the way [30:50] to the enemy's [30:52] unconditional surrender. [30:54] We got an [30:55] unconditional surrender. [30:57] He was there [30:58] at 104 years old [31:01] and looking really good. [31:02] Captain Shubring [31:04] is here tonight [31:06] and he is saluting [31:07] the flag [31:08] that went down [31:09] with the Arizona [31:10] at Pearl Harbor [31:11] but was raised back up [31:13] with the help [31:14] of some unbelievable [31:16] American patriots. [31:19] It's a symbol [31:19] of American defiance. [31:22] Please. [31:36] Thank you, Captain. [31:37] Thank you, Captain. [31:39] Great job. [31:50] Thank you very much. [31:52] You have very good genes. [31:53] That's his son. [31:55] His son's going to be [31:56] around a long time. [31:58] Thank you very much, Captain. [32:00] On D-Day in World War II, [32:02] Navy Lieutenant Arthur Rose [32:04] commanded 36 landing craft [32:07] as part of the largest [32:09] naval armada in history. [32:12] Recalling that sight, [32:13] he wrote home [32:14] to his parents, [32:15] what a country we are. [32:18] At 107 years old, [32:22] Lieutenant Rose is here [32:23] to salute one of our nation's [32:25] most prized possessions, [32:26] the flag that flew aboard [32:28] the first landing craft [32:30] on D-Day [32:31] and led the first Americans [32:33] onto the beaches of Normandy [32:35] to liberate Europe [32:37] and defeat Nazi fascism forever. [33:09] Lieutenant Rose, [33:10] you are an inspiration [33:12] to this beautiful crowd [33:14] and we thank you very much. [33:16] Amazing man. [33:17] 107. [33:19] It's 107. [33:22] On Iwo Jima in the Pacific, [33:25] the Marines faced [33:26] some of the most brutal combat [33:28] in the history of warfare. [33:31] They shed their blood [33:32] for every inch of mountain [33:34] that they reached [33:35] and when they reached the summit [33:37] and raised the stars and stripes [33:39] for all to see, [33:39] it was so special [33:41] to everybody there. [33:43] Everybody there [33:44] and everybody watching. [33:45] They couldn't believe it. [33:46] It wasn't supposed to happen. [33:48] With us today [33:49] is one of the last survivors [33:50] of that battle, [33:51] 101-year-old Marine Corporal [33:53] Don Graves, [33:54] and he's here to salute [33:57] that famous flag. [33:58] He saw rise in the glory [33:59] of Iwo Jima 81 years ago [34:02] and you've all seen [34:03] that flag many times. [34:26] So, ladies and gentlemen, [34:27] these are the fighters [34:28] and the banners [34:30] of the greatest generation. [34:32] They are the greatest generation. [34:34] I hate to admit that, [34:35] but they are. [34:37] They saved the world [34:38] and they made America [34:40] very, very proud. [34:42] We're very proud of you. [34:43] Heroes all. [34:45] And after we vanquished fascism, [34:48] Americans stood against [34:50] the evil of communism [34:51] in the Cold War. [34:52] And as I said last night [34:54] at the beautiful Mount Rushmore, [34:57] what a beautiful place, [34:59] where Washington, [35:00] Jefferson, Lincoln, [35:01] and Theodore Roosevelt [35:02] loomed over my shoulder [35:03] as I spoke, [35:05] America will never be [35:07] a communist country. [35:08] Won't happen. [35:12] Communism is a loser [35:13] and it always will be. [35:16] The communist system [35:17] is the opposite [35:18] of the American system [35:20] and the communist system [35:21] has never worked. [35:23] Our warriors did not fight [35:25] communism on battlefields [35:27] across the world [35:27] only to have that menace [35:29] rear its ugly head [35:31] right back here in America. [35:33] We're not going to let it happen. [35:39] We'd like to stop a threat [35:40] like that immediately [35:42] and before it begins. [35:44] It's like a cancer. [35:45] You've got to cut it out. [35:46] You've got to cut it out fast. [35:49] Tonight, we proudly thank [35:50] veterans of the war [35:52] on communism, [35:54] including Marine Corporal [35:56] Pat Finn [35:57] and Private First Class [35:59] Rudy Meekins, [36:00] who fought at the famed [36:01] Battle of Chosin Reservoir [36:05] in Korea. [36:06] That was a rough one. [36:07] Thank you. [36:09] Pat fought in hand-to-hand [36:11] combat with the enemy. [36:18] He had five against him [36:19] and he was one. [36:21] And as you can see, [36:22] he's around to talk about it. [36:24] And Rudy was wounded four times [36:26] but never stopped shooting [36:27] and he never stopped moving forward. [36:28] And also with us [36:31] is veteran Sonny Ray, [36:33] who fought heroically [36:34] against an enemy force [36:36] ten times his unit size [36:38] and earned a tremendously [36:41] deserved silver star. [36:45] Tonight, they salute [36:46] one of the very first [36:47] 50-star flags [36:48] to fly above the field of battle. [36:50] This was about the beginning [36:51] of the 50. [36:54] And right next to it [36:55] is one of the last flags [36:56] from Check Boy Charlie, [36:59] a very famous place [37:00] on the Berlin Wall [37:01] where American freedom [37:03] finally brought communism [37:05] crashing down to an end. [37:08] Thank you so much. [37:10] You are really very special. [37:12] Thank you. [37:13] Thank you very much. [37:18] The stars and stripes [37:20] cast the hammer and sickle [37:22] into oblivion before [37:24] and we will do it again [37:26] if necessary. [37:27] I don't think it's going [37:28] to be necessary. [37:29] I think people have learned. [37:31] They've learned what to do [37:33] and how to handle it [37:34] and we're going to handle it [37:35] very well. [37:37] So, gentlemen, [37:37] I want to thank you very much. [37:39] Amazing people. [37:40] Amazing men. [37:41] Thank you. [37:49] How about that? [37:50] Isn't that great? [37:52] What an honor it is [37:53] to be with them. [37:54] Think of it, 107. [37:55] And that's up there. [37:59] But hopefully he's got [38:00] 20 good years left. [38:05] Through the generations, [38:07] Americans have never [38:08] stopped striving [38:09] to lift humanity [38:11] to new heights. [38:13] In 1903, [38:14] the Wright brothers [38:15] from Ohio [38:16] fulfilled the age-old dream [38:17] of mankind [38:18] to fly. [38:21] That's right. [38:21] They're from Ohio. [38:22] Great state. [38:23] And within 66 years [38:26] of inventing the airplane, [38:28] Americans planted [38:29] our flag on the moon. [38:31] Just three months ago, [38:33] we sent American astronauts [38:35] back to the far side [38:37] of the moon [38:37] and this time [38:38] they flew further [38:39] from Earth [38:40] than anyone [38:41] has ever flown before. [38:44] And here they are. [38:47] So tonight, [38:55] we're joined by [38:56] that crew of NASA, [39:02] Artemis. [39:03] You know the crew, [39:04] everybody. [39:07] Artemis 2. [39:08] And everybody watched. [39:09] Isn't that amazing? [39:10] They became very famous. [39:12] Everybody watched. [39:13] I was watching. [39:14] I don't know what it was. [39:15] That one got the attention [39:17] of everybody. [39:17] And along with [39:18] the last man [39:19] to walk on the moon, [39:21] Apollo 17 astronaut [39:22] Jack Schmidt. [39:24] Thank you, Jack. [39:25] You look like [39:28] you could be with them, Jack. [39:30] You look very good. [39:32] You look very good, Jack. [39:33] Thank you very much. [39:34] What a job. [39:35] Everybody was watching. [39:37] I was with a group of people [39:39] that normally [39:39] wouldn't be watching [39:40] and we were having [39:42] a big dinner [39:42] and they all said, [39:43] we want to turn on, [39:44] we want to watch [39:45] Artemis 2. [39:47] A lot of people said, [39:48] what is that? [39:48] By the end of the evening, [39:49] they knew. [39:50] It was amazing. [39:52] And along with Jared, [39:53] where is Jared? [39:54] He's so great. [39:55] He's running NASA. [39:56] What a job he's done. [39:58] So I want to thank you all. [40:00] Thank you very much. [40:01] Great job. [40:01] So these champions [40:07] of flight stand [40:08] this evening [40:08] beside the flag [40:09] flown on [40:10] the Wright Brothers [40:11] airplane piloted [40:13] by Orville Wright. [40:15] It's the exact flag. [40:17] Very historic. [40:19] And they are honored [40:19] to be here. [40:20] They told me today [40:21] they were really amazed [40:24] to be here [40:24] with that flag. [40:25] That's a very special flag [40:26] if you're in the world [40:28] of flying aircraft. [40:30] So congratulations [40:31] to everybody. [40:32] Fantastic job. [40:33] Very proud of you. [40:34] And I have a special gift [40:38] for these patriots [40:40] this morning [40:40] on America's [40:41] 250th birthday. [40:43] A new flag was [40:44] flown above [40:45] the United States Capitol. [40:47] And tonight, [40:48] I present it to you [40:49] to soon be planted [40:50] by American astronauts [40:52] on their upcoming [40:53] return to the moon. [40:54] And in addition to that, [40:56] I gave them [40:57] and all of the great heroes [40:59] that you saw [40:59] up on stage tonight [41:01] and a few others [41:02] that couldn't quite [41:03] make the stage, [41:04] I gave them [41:05] a very special medal [41:06] from the White House. [41:07] So it's an honor. [41:08] Thank you very much, [41:09] everybody. [41:10] Appreciate it. [41:15] So then I assume [41:16] you're going to be [41:17] heading to Mars, right? [41:18] We're going to be [41:19] going to Mars very soon. [41:20] And I think that's [41:21] something that we do [41:22] have in mind. [41:23] And we're going to do [41:24] the moon [41:25] and we're going to [41:25] go from there. [41:26] We're going to go to Mars [41:27] and we're going to [41:28] continue to be way ahead. [41:30] You know, [41:31] we did Space Force. [41:32] That was something [41:33] I was very proud of. [41:34] And some people smiled. [41:36] They thought it was foolish. [41:37] And now they're finding [41:38] it's one of the most [41:39] important things [41:40] that we've done. [41:41] We were losing to China [41:45] and to Russia in space. [41:47] And now we're leading them [41:48] by giant steps. [41:50] And it's a great thing. [41:51] And it's people like that [41:52] that really, like you, [41:54] that made it happen. [41:55] Thank you very much, [41:55] everybody. [41:56] Thank you very much. [41:57] So as we celebrate [42:00] America's unmatched [42:01] achievements [42:02] and unlimited potential, [42:04] we never forget [42:05] that none of this [42:06] would have been possible [42:07] without those [42:09] who gave everything [42:10] so that we could reach [42:11] this 250th year of freedom. [42:13] We are honored [42:14] to be joined [42:15] by 11 Gold Star family members. [42:18] The Gold Star family, [42:20] that is one of the great [42:21] tributes. [42:23] It's one of the great [42:24] honors. [42:25] Great honors. [42:25] A tough honor. [42:27] There's nothing tougher [42:28] than that. [42:30] But these are amazing people. [42:31] Thank you very much. [42:33] Thank you very much. [42:34] Come on up. [42:40] They went through a lot. [42:45] Thank you very much. [42:52] And that special person [42:53] is looking up there [42:55] and looking down [42:56] at mom and dad, [42:59] husband, wife. [43:01] But they're looking down [43:02] with great pride. [43:03] You know that. [43:04] You know that. [43:04] And we want to thank you [43:05] for being here. [43:06] Thank you very much. [43:07] And we have medals [43:08] for you backstage. [43:09] I brought them. [43:10] I thought I'd be handing them out [43:11] about two hours ago, [43:13] three hours ago. [43:14] But we're going to be backstage [43:15] and we have beautiful medals [43:17] for you, for your family [43:18] from the White House. [43:20] Thank you very much, everybody. [43:21] We love you. [43:22] On this special 4th of July, [43:26] we give you our undying gratitude [43:28] and promise to redeem [43:31] the sacrifice of your heroes [43:33] by preserving the America [43:36] that they love. [43:37] They loved our country. [43:38] They sacrificed. [43:40] They sacrificed it all. [43:42] And these people [43:43] have sacrificed it all. [43:44] They've been through hell. [43:46] We love you. [43:47] Thank you very much. [43:48] Thank you. [43:49] From 1776 to today, [43:56] everywhere the American flag [43:58] has flown, [43:58] it has been a symbol of strength, [44:01] righteousness and hope [44:02] because that is who Americans are. [44:06] In 1944, [44:09] a mother and her daughter [44:10] huddled in their house [44:11] in Nazi-occupied Belgium [44:14] and prayed desperately [44:15] for their country to be freed. [44:17] They wanted freed. [44:19] As they waited, [44:20] they found scraps of fabric [44:22] and stitched together [44:23] a homemade American flag. [44:26] It's beautiful, [44:27] but homemade. [44:28] On the day they were [44:30] finally liberated, [44:31] and that's what the word is, [44:33] liberated, [44:34] they gave it to an American soldier [44:36] as a gift. [44:37] Little did they know [44:39] that that soldier's [44:40] great-grandfather [44:41] was none other than [44:42] the author of our [44:43] Star-Spangled Banner, [44:46] Francis Scott Key. [44:48] And tonight, [44:50] the next generation [44:51] of the Key family [44:53] is with us. [44:54] Thank you very much. [45:00] Thank you. [45:04] Major Kyle Key [45:08] has spent 23 years [45:10] in the U.S. Army, [45:11] highly respected, [45:12] and this evening [45:14] he proudly salutes [45:15] the old flag [45:16] that was made [45:17] by the Belgian woman [45:19] so beautifully [45:20] and who knew [45:21] that America means [45:22] hope and freedom. [45:24] Congratulations [45:25] and thank you [45:26] for being here very much. [45:27] And in conclusion, [45:37] from a declaration [45:38] in Philadelphia [45:40] to victory at Yorktown, [45:43] from the bustling factories [45:45] of the heartland [45:47] to the towering, [45:48] snow-capped summits [45:50] of Alaska, [45:52] from the endless frontier [45:53] of the open Wild West [45:55] to the magnificent sand dunes [45:58] at Kitty Hawk, [46:00] from the glimmering skyline [46:02] of Manhattan [46:02] to the far side [46:04] of the moon. [46:05] You just saw that. [46:07] And from the now safe [46:09] and beautiful capital [46:11] of Washington. [46:13] Think of it. [46:14] Washington, D.C., [46:15] our capital. [46:16] Our capital is now safe, [46:20] gleaming, [46:20] and beautiful again. [46:21] It's safe again. [46:22] went from a very unsafe place [46:25] two years ago [46:25] to one of the safest cities [46:27] in the country [46:28] and one of the most beautiful [46:30] to the gleaming waters [46:32] of the Gulf of America. [46:35] There is no challenge [46:40] Americans cannot overcome. [46:43] There is no place [46:44] we cannot go. [46:46] There is no goal [46:47] we cannot reach, [46:49] and there is nothing [46:50] that Americans cannot do, [46:53] and we're proving that right now. [46:55] Our stock market [46:57] is the strongest [46:58] it's ever been. [47:00] We have $19.2 trillion [47:03] being invested in our country, [47:05] which is six times more [47:06] than ever happened before. [47:08] We're building more factories [47:10] in the United States [47:12] than ever before. [47:13] Everyone's 401ks [47:15] are at the highest number [47:17] they've ever been. [47:19] And more people [47:20] are working today [47:21] in the United States [47:22] than any time [47:23] in the history [47:25] of our country. [47:25] But in this country, [47:27] we can achieve [47:28] the wildest [47:29] and most impossible dreams, [47:32] and no dream in history [47:33] is bigger or more incredible [47:35] than the one [47:36] that started on July 4th, 1776. [47:41] The war for independence [47:43] was launched by minutemen, [47:45] farmers, blacksmiths, tradesmen [47:47] who took up their muskets [47:49] against the mightiest army [47:51] on earth, [47:51] the most powerful army [47:53] and unbeatable army [47:55] until they met us. [47:58] No one made them do it. [48:00] They fought because they knew [48:02] that a free people [48:04] must have a free country. [48:06] Over 250 years, [48:08] the world has seen [48:10] the great empires, [48:12] vast kingdoms, [48:13] mighty nations, [48:15] and terrible tyrants. [48:16] They came and they went. [48:19] But after two and a half centuries, [48:21] this American republic [48:22] still stands tall and strong, [48:24] and we love each other. [48:25] That showed tonight. [48:26] You heard it was over, [48:29] and what happened? [48:30] You came back. [48:35] And this American flag [48:37] still waves proud [48:38] and free and beautiful. [48:42] We have thrived and flourished [48:43] because our founders were great. [48:46] Our cause was just. [48:48] Our people are brave. [48:49] Our culture is exceptional, [48:51] and our destiny [48:52] is written by God. [48:59] And as we can see here tonight, [49:01] after 250 years, [49:03] the spirit of 1776 [49:05] still lives within us all. [49:09] It still roars in the hearts [49:11] of our nation's capital. [49:12] It still burns in the heart [49:14] of every patriot, [49:16] thunders through every city and town, [49:18] and it still lights the entire world [49:20] with the glow of American liberty. [49:23] And there is nothing like that. [49:26] At 250 years old, [49:27] we may be the oldest [49:29] constitutional republic on earth, [49:32] but our country [49:33] is just getting started [49:34] because the best is yet to come. [49:43] This is only the dawn [49:45] of the golden age of America, [49:47] and on this 250th, [49:50] 4th of July, [49:51] we declared, [49:52] just as they did [49:54] two and a half centuries ago, [49:56] that for our country [49:57] and for our children [49:58] and for the cause of liberty, [50:00] we are going to take our country [50:02] to new levels, [50:04] to levels not reached. [50:05] We're going to make it bigger, [50:07] better, stronger, [50:09] and we're going to love it even more. [50:11] And I just want to thank you, [50:12] and the inconvenience of lightning [50:14] can do that, [50:16] but lightning will never stop you. [50:19] And I want to thank everybody, [50:20] and we love you all, [50:21] and it's an honor [50:22] to be your president. [50:24] Thank you. [50:24] God bless you all. [50:26] God bless you all. [50:27] Thank you. [50:27] We have a great fireworks display tonight, [50:40] and I'm going to be watching it with you. [50:42] It's going to start very quickly, [50:44] so thank you very much. [50:45] You're going to really like this. [50:46] Thank you very much, everybody. [54:29] Join us in singing the national anthem.