The President: My Fellow Americans,
We're only 11 weeks in, but already my
administration has achieved historic progress
for the American people - in fact, 93% of our
domestic manufacturers have expressed optimism in
the future, a record.
The confidence we are seeing in our Nation is
about jobs and opportunity - but it's also about
safety and security.
Security begins at the border - as a candidate, I
pledged to take swift and decisive action to secure
the border, and that is exactly what I have done.
We inherited a full-fledged border crisis
- it was a disaster.
Yet, with quick and bold steps, we have so far
exceeded even the most bullish predictions for
the progress we could make in so short a
period of time.
Last month, we saw a 64% reduction in illegal
immigration on our southern border.
At the same time, we are conducting enforcement
actions across the country to remove dangerous
criminal aliens from our society -
and they'll be gone.
In just the last few days our Nation's ICE officers
have arrested 153 criminal aliens in south Texas, 84
criminal aliens in the Pacific Northwest, and 31
criminal aliens in Long Island, New York - these
arrests include aliens convicted of robbery,
burglary, aggravated assault, sexual assault
against a child, smuggling, drug dealing,
and many more.
Much work needs to be done to reverse decades of harm
caused by open border policies from Washington -
but, with time, dedication, and effort, we
will get the job done, and save countless lives
in the process.
Providing security for the American People also means
restoring America's standing in the world.
From the very start of my Presidency, I have worked
to strengthen our alliances and improve our
relationships all around the globe.
This week, I was honored to welcome the President
of Egypt and the King of Jordan to the White House.
Now, I am hosting a summit with President Xi of China
at the Southern White House to address the many
critical issues affecting our two peoples.
In our dealings with other nations, our conversations
have been candid, open, and grounded in
mutual respect.
I have been clear about advocating for the
national interests of the United States, something
so important to me, and so important to our people -
one of the reasons, certainly,
that I got elected.
And I want to ensure that the decisions we make
truly serve the safety and security of our citizens.
In matters both economic and military, we
understand that a strong America is in the best
interests of the world - that is why it is so
important that as we strengthen international
partnerships, we ensure these partnerships deliver
real results for Americans and the American people.
Our decisions will be guided by our values and
our goals - and we will reject the path of
inflexible ideology that too often leads to
unintended consequences.
A future of peace, safety, and prosperity - that is
our guiding light, and always will be.
Together, we will bring about this future for the
land we love, and for the people who call it home.
We love our country, and we love the
American people.
Thank you.