Chief
Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President
Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world:
Thank you.
We, the
citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our
country and to restore its promise—for all of our people.
Together, we
will determine the course of America and the world for years to come. We will
face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done.
Every four
years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer
of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent.
Today’s
ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely
transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to
another. But we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back
to you, the American people.
For too
long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of
government while the people have borne the cost.
Washington
flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth.
Politicians
prospered, but the jobs left, and the factories closed.
The
establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.
Their
victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your
triumphs. And while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little
to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
That all
changes, starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your
moment.
It belongs
to you. It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all
across America.
This is your
day. This is your celebration.
And this,
the United States of America, is your country.
What truly
matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government
is controlled by the people.
January 20th
2017 will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation
again.
The
forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.
Everyone is
listening to you now.
You came by
the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which
the world has never seen before.
At the
center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve
its citizens.
Americans
want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families,
and good jobs for themselves.
These are
the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.
But for too
many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped
in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones
across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but
which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the
crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our
country of so much unrealized potential.
This
American carnage stops right here and stops right now.
We are one
nation—and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their
success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious
destiny.
The oath of
office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.
For many
decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry;
Subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad
depletion of our military; We’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing
to defend our own;
And spent
trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into
disrepair and decay.
We’ve made
other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country
has disappeared over the horizon.
One by one,
the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the
millions upon millions of American workers left behind.
The wealth
of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed
across the entire world.
But that is
the past. And now we are looking only to the future.
We assembled
here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign
capital, and in every hall of power.
From this
day forward, a new vision will govern our land.
From this
moment on, it’s going to be America First.
Every
decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made
to benefit American workers and American families.
We must
protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products,
stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great
prosperity and strength.
I will fight
for you with every breath in my body—and I will never, ever let you down.
America will
start winning again, winning like never before.
We will
bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our
wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.
We will
build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and
railways all across our wonderful nation.
We will get
our people off of welfare and back to work – rebuilding our country with
American hands and American labor.
We will follow
two simple rules: buy American and hire American.
We will seek
friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world – but we do so with the
understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests
first.
We do not
seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an
example for everyone to follow.
We will
reinforce old alliances and form new ones—and unite the civilized world against
radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of
the earth.
At the
bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of
America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty
to each other.
When you
open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.
The Bible
tells us, “how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in
unity.”
We must
speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue
solidarity.
When America
is united, America is totally unstoppable.
There should
be no fear—we are protected, and we will always be protected.
We will be
protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and,
most importantly, we are protected by God.
Finally, we
must think big and dream even bigger.
In America,
we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving.
We will no
longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action – constantly
complaining but never doing anything about it.
The time for
empty talk is over.
Now arrives
the hour of action.
Do not let
anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight
and spirit of America.
We will not
fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again.
We stand at
the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free
the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries
and technologies of tomorrow.
A new
national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions.
It is time
to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are
black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all
enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American
flag.
And whether
a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of
Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the
same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty
Creator.
So to all
Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to
mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words:
You will
never be ignored again.
Your voice,
your hopes, and your dreams, will define our American destiny. And your courage
and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.
Together, we
will make America strong again.
We will make
America wealthy again.
We will make
America proud again.
We will make
America safe again.
And, yes,
together, we will make America great again.
Thank you,
God bless you, and God bless America.
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