The Pentagon

Arlington, Virginia

11:25 A.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Acting Secretary Shanahan, Secretary Mark Esper, Secretary Wilson, distinguished members of Congress, members of the Joint Chiefs, the leadership of the Armed Forces of the United States, and to all of you who wear the uniform of the United States of America. It is my honor to be with you here today at the Pentagon as our President unveils his vision for our renewed commitment to American missile defense.

As Commander-in-Chief, President Trump has no higher priority than the safety and security of the American people. And it’s, frankly, the greatest honor of my life to serve as Vice President to a President who cares so deeply about the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families.

Today, along with all of you, our hearts and our prayers are with the families of the fallen American heroes who were lost in Syria yesterday, as well as those service members who were wounded.

We honor their service and we will honor the memory of the fallen. And their families and our Armed Forces should know their sacrifice will only steel our resolve; that as we begin to bring our troops home, we will do so in a way that ensures that the remnants of ISIS will never be able to reestablish their evil and murderous caliphate. (Applause.)

It’s in that same spirit of resolve that we gather here today. Since day one of this administration, President Trump has taken decisive action to make the strongest military in the history of the world stronger still.

Working with members of Congress in both parties, we’re rebuilding our military, restoring the arsenal of democracy. And last year, President Trump signed the largest investment in our national defense since the days of Ronald Reagan, including the largest military pay raise in nearly a decade. (Applause.)

At the President’s direction, we released a National Security Strategy that puts America first, pursued the modernization of our nuclear arsenal. And President Trump has taken decisive action to extend American dominance on land, at sea, in air, and in cyberspace, and even called for the establishment of a sixth branch of our Armed Forces to ensure American dominance in space.

In the last two years, our President has made great progress to provide for the common defense. And today, by unveiling our new strategy for missile defense, President Trump will take another critical step to ensure the safety and security of the American people and our very way of life.

This President knows that the American people believe that America First begins with peace through strength. So now it is my high honor and distinct privilege to introduce your Commander-in-Chief, the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Wow, that’s really nice. Thank you. You’re only doing that because I gave you the greatest and biggest budget in our history. (Laughter.) And I’ve now done it two times. (Applause.) And I hate to tell the rest of the world, but I’m about to do it three times. So — (applause) — so that’s the only reason you gave me such a nice welcome.

Thank you very much. And thank you to Vice President Pence for that wonderful introduction. It’s an honor to be at the Pentagon with so many distinguished military leaders, and I especially want to recognize our Acting Defense Secretary, Patrick Shanahan. He’s been fantastic — wherever you may be, Patrick. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you.

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