Remarks by President Trump at the 2019 United States Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony | Colorado Springs, CO | Eastern North Carolina Now

    This class personifies the spirit of confidence and courage and unwavering commitment that has always defined the Long Blue Line. (Applause.) It's true. It goes all the way back to the very beginning, to the first cadet in the Air Force history.

    On in-processing day, you've - greeted at the base of a ramp by the statue of the legendary Val Bourque. Val grew up in a blue-collar family in Massachusetts. During his senior year in high school, he was recruited to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates. That's another baseball player. But instead, Val made the same choice as all of you: the choice of life of service. That's what he wanted.

    Val joined the U.S. Air Force Academy. He showed up at 4:30 a.m. on the Academy's opening day in 1955, so he would be the first Air Force cadet in history to take the Oath of Allegiance. He was thinking fast.

    The Academy proved an arduous challenge, however, for Val. It wasn't easy. As Val's roommate said, "He was hanging on by a thread academically. No one was tested more than Val was. But he was at the very top in [his] character and [in] honor." That's what his roommate said.

    After Val finally made it to where you're sitting today, he volunteered to go to Vietnam and he proved to be one of the best pilots America had. He was amazing. He was incredible. After nearly a year of intense action, he was scheduled to return home. He was very excited but he asked to lead one more mission. On that day, Val's plane was struck by enemy fire, and he made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He now rests on these precious grounds, and his fighting spirit lives in each and every one of you. Great fighting spirit. (Applause.)

    The heroes and legends of every generation have always had to confront new perils and defeat new dangers. No one can foresee all of the challenges this class will face, but we do know that, with absolute certainty, you are going to be ready to serve. You are going to be ready to lead. You are going to be aiming at the absolute highest point. And you are ready to "Fly, Fight, and Win." Always win. (Applause.) Always.

    You exemplify the grit, the guts, and the grace that make America's Air Force, by far, the best in the world. And in the words of your class motto, "Conquer Mind, Conquer All."

    Each of you has the sharp intellect, deep character, inner strength, and the titanium courage to vanquish any menace that dares to threaten our country or our people. (Applause.) We're always ready. Right, General? Always ready. He's ready. I wonder how that's going to be viewed - that statement - tomorrow in the press. (Laughter.) You can imagine. And that's okay. Let them think whatever they want to think. (Applause.)

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    More than half of you will soon head to pilot training, where you will prepare to unleash American thunder anywhere we need. Another 45 will join our Remotely Piloted Aircraft program. A record number of you will become space operators. You will specialize in combat rescues, intelligence, missile maintenance, weather, air traffic control, engineering, and much, much more.

    Each of you is graduating at a truly incredible time for our country. Our country is doing well. Our country is respected again. (Applause.) We are respected again. And we're reawakening American pride, American confidence, and American greatness. You know that. These gentlemen know it; I'll tell you right now. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. That's very nice.

    And we are restoring the fundamental principle that our first obligation and highest loyalty is to the American citizen. No longer will we sacrifice America's interests to any foreign power. We don't do that anymore. (Applause.) In all things and ways, we are putting America first, and it's about time. (Applause.)

    Our economy is booming, our people are thriving, and our military is stronger, mightier, and more powerful - with all of that new aircraft - than ever before.

    I am committed to keeping our military the best trained, best equipped, and most technologically advanced fighting force anywhere under the sun. (Applause.) Last year, against some pretty strong opposition, which I'll always have, we secured $700 billion to support our warfighters, followed by another $716 billion - not million - billion. That's with a "B." (Laughter.) Seven hundred and sixteen billion dollars this year.

    That means we are delivering 56 new Air Force F-35s, brand new stealth. (Applause.) I asked somebody on the other side, "What do you think of that plane?" A foreign leader. They said, "We have a problem with it; we can't see it." (Laughter.) It's always good. It's always good when they can't see you.

    Twenty-four new Reaper remotely piloted Aircraft, fifteen new Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft, ten new combat rescue helicopters, and a well-earned pay raise for every soldier, sailor, airman, Coast Guardsman, and Marine in the United States military. (Applause.) And if anybody wants to give up your raise, it's okay. We'll accept that. Okay? (Laughter.) Don't do it. (Laughter.)

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    We're also asking Congress to invest more in hypersonic weapons. We have things under development, the likes of which you've never seen; the likes of which you can't even conceive. Artificial intelligence, nuclear weapons and modernization, and space superiority. And we're soon having, as you know, something that I started. And it started a little slow, and now everybody has embraced it: Space Force. And you're going to be working with them. (Applause.)

    And, General, I want to thank you for helping us so much. It's been really great. Working with you has been great. A whole new force.

    In this stadium today are many of the future leaders who will develop the doctrine, strategy, and technology to restore America's legacy of leadership in space. As you know, other nations are moving aggressively to weaponize space with new technologies that can disrupt vital communications and blind satellites that are critical to our battlefield operations.

    It is a time for America to reclaim the ultimate high ground and prepare our young warriors of today for victory on the battlefield tomorrow. It's a very different battlefield. It's a very different type of warfare. But we are so advanced. And when you see what's coming, you won't even believe it. And hopefully - you know what? Hopefully, we never have to use it. Peace through strength. Peace through strength. (Applause.)

    As your Commander-in-Chief, I want you to know that we will pursue and maintain the overwhelming strength we need to deter any aggressor and thrash any foe. For that reason, I am committed to building the Air Force we need with the full strength of 386 squadrons. And we're getting it done, too. It's happening rapidly.

    Because nothing will ever strike more fear in the hearts of our enemies or inspire more confidence in our friends than the roaring engines of American fighter jets, flown by the greatest pilots on the planet Earth, by far: you. (Applause.) The sound of American warplanes is the righteous sound of American justice.

    Today, you inherit a legacy of service and valor handed down through generations. It's a tradition built by legends like Rickenbacker, Doolittle, Wagner, Archer, Boyd, Yeager, Sijan, Grissom, and Chapman. Great people. Great people. (Applause.) These trailblazers broke barriers after barrier, and they innovated and adapted to push America further, faster, and on to total victory.

    It is the same spirit embodied by your Class Exemplar, Neil Armstrong, who started out flying jets over Korea, and, 50 years ago this summer, planted our great American flag on the face of the moon.

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    Just like all the aces of our past and the heroes of our history, they were ready to lead when America needed them most. And so is every cadet who graduates today. Is that correct? (Applause.) I think so.

    You are the patriots whose names will go down in Air Force history. You will redefine warfare at a very, very critical time in our country's history. You'll win great battles and bring our enemies to crushing defeat. You will explore the boundaries of space, and keep America forever proud and forever free.

    So today, you take the controls. You're going to push it up and chart your course across the sky. Keep the wings level and true, because your country is sending you on a vital mission: to defend America, protect our people, and to pursue our nation's great and glorious destiny.

    Nothing will stop you from victory. Nothing will stop the U.S. Air Force. And with your help, nothing ever, ever will stop the United States of America. (Applause.)

    So I want to conclude by giving a very special congratulations to a very special group of amazing cadets and people. It's the Class of 2019.

    AUDIENCE: Strong!

    THE PRESIDENT: On behalf of our nation, God bless you, God bless the Air Force, and God bless America. This is a great honor being with you. Thank you. And congratulations to everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)

END  •  12:29 P.M. MST

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