The Vice President: Greetings, and welcome to
the East Room of the White House.
(applause)
The Vice President: Before I introduce the man who got us
here, let me say, we're here for some official business,
and we are so grateful to be joined not only by men and
women who will be serving in extraordinarily important
roles in this administration, but even
more importantly by family members and close friends
who've joined us to mark this occasion.
We're here today to swear in a group of outstanding
public servants who have already contributed mightily
to a great start for this administration.
This group of assistants to the President is being
commissioned this afternoon as officers of the President
of the United States.
President Trump has commissioned only 30
assistants to the President for his administration.
And it will be my high honor and distinct privilege to
swear each of you in to these extraordinary
responsibilities that you will accept today.
With that, ladies and gentlemen, the President of
the United States of America.
(applause)
The President: Thank you very much.
That's very nice.
I just went to the Oval Office and found this
beautiful letter from President Obama.
It was really very nice of him to do that, and we will
cherish that and we will keep that.
And we won't even tell the press what's in that letter.
(laughter)
The President: I want to start off by telling you I
just spoke with Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia.
Great state, great people.
Florida affected, Alabama affected by the tornadoes,
and just expressed our sincere condolences for the
lives taken.
Tornadoes were vicious and powerful and strong, and
they suffered greatly.
So, we'll be helping out the state of Georgia, we'll be
speaking with Governor Scott right after this and we'll
be -- Alabama is a special place, Florida a special
place, but they got hit hard.
They all got hit hard.
But, looks like Georgia's lost at least eleven people
as of this moment.
That's a lot of people.
So, on behalf of all of us, Governor Deal, condolences.
We are going to tell you that this has been a very
interesting few days.
We have set up meetings with the Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom, and Prime Minister May will be coming
over to the United States shortly.
We're also meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada,
and we will be meeting with the President of Mexico, who
I know, and we're going to start some negotiations
having to do with NAFTA.
Anybody ever hear of NAFTA?
(laughter)
The President: I ran my campaign somewhat based on
NAFTA.
But, we're going to start renegotiating on NAFTA, on
immigration, and on security at the border.
And Mexico has been terrific, actually,
terrific.
And the President has been really very amazing, and I
think we're going to have a very good result for Mexico,
for the United States, and for everybody involved.
It's very important.
It's a very, very important thing.
And, speaking of important, you're very important
because with you, and all of the people in this room, we
are going to do some great things over the next eight
years.
(applause)
The President: Right?
Right?
Great group.
This is a great group of people.
And if they're not, I will let you know about it.
This is the bad news about being the -- I will let you
know if they're not doing the job, okay?
(laughter)
I'll praise them if they're doing it, and I'll let you
know if they're not doing it, but they will do it.
They're going to do a fantastic job; I'm so proud
of them.
I know them so well.
Each and every one of you should be extremely proud.
Give yourselves a round of applause, come on.
Give yourselves a round of applause.
(applause)
The President: To your family and friends, who are
gathered here today, I want them all to know how
important you are to the functioning of the White
House and, ultimately, to the functioning of the
United States of America.
I also want to thank the families here today for all
you have done to support your loved ones as they've
devoted their time and energy to causes of public
service, including many long nights -- they'll be away --
long, long nights.
And that will go on for a long, long time, but we're
going to come out way ahead.
We're going to come out way, way ahead.
As a nation, as a country, we're going to come out way
ahead because I know what we have.
I know how talented these people are.
We're also a team.
It's a team.
It's a great team; it's a team that gets along.
And as I said during my inaugural address, this is
not about party.
This is not about ideology, this is about country -- our
country.
And it's about serving the American people.
(applause)
The President: We're not here to help ourselves.
We're here to devote ourselves to the national
good.
Public service is a high and great calling.
It's our solemn duty, together, to protect the
country -- our country, this great, great country.
To defend its workers and promote the wellbeing of all
Americans.
So many people are depending on us and on you, as
families.
You as people that are going to get it done.
So many people: the veterans, the unemployed,
men and women serving in harm's way overseas, victims
of crime, and young Americans looking to fulfill
their dreams.
So many of those young Americans, and they're going
to be fulfilling their dreams.
We're going to make it much easier for them.
We will face many challenges, but with the
faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get
the job done.
We will prove worthy of this moment in history, and I
think it may very well be a great moment in history.
So, be proud.
Be very proud.
(applause)
The President: Now, I began with this gentleman right here.
I said, "Mike, how about it?"
And he said, "Not even a question."
And it was a great decision for me.
So, Mike Pence, our fabulous Vice President of the United
States will administer the oath of office.
And congratulations to everybody.
Congratulations.
(applause)
The Vice President: And now, the oath of office.
Would all those who are performing the oath and
accepting responsibilities as assistants to the
President of the United States, please rise.
I, state your full name.
Multiple Speakers: (inaudible dialogue)
The Vice President: Please raise your right hand.
(laughter)
The Vice President: I, state your full name.
Multiple Speakers: (inaudible dialogue)
The Vice President: Do solemnly swear.
Multiple Speakers: Do solemnly swear.
The Vice President: That I will support and defend the
Constitution of the United States.
Multiple Speakers: That I will support and defend the
Constitution of the United States.
The Vice President: Against all enemies, foreign and
domestic.
Multiple Speakers: Against all enemies, foreign and
domestic.
The Vice President: That I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same.
Multiple Speakers: That I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same.
The Vice President: That I take this obligation freely.
Multiple Speakers: That I take this obligation freely.
The Vice President: Without any mental reservation or
purpose of evasion.
Multiple Speakers: Without any mental reservation or
purpose of evasion.
The Vice President: And that I will well and faithfully
discharge.
Multiple Speakers: And that I will well and faithfully
discharge.
The Vice President: The duties of the office on
which I am about to enter.
Multiple Speakers: The duties of the office on
which I am about to enter.
The Vice President: So, help me God.
Multiple Speakers: So, help me God.
(applause)
Reince Priebus: Well, thank you, Mr. President for
entrusting us with the most solemn and important
responsibility we will ever undertake, to serve at your
pleasure.
It is particularly special today, to have taken this
oath while surrounded by our family and close friends.
To those who took this oath, this is a moment that we'll
never forget.
It's also an opportunity to reflect on the immense
responsibility we have to our President and our
nation.
When I walked into my office this morning, there was a
verse on a desk, and it's from Isaiah 40:31.
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not be faint."
It is our duty to serve with character and integrity, and
to support President Trump as he places the interests
of the American people first, and everything that
he does.
Finally, I want to thank not just the President one more
time, but the Vice President, our families and
our loved ones, and all the kids that here.
And finally --
(applause)
Reince Preibus: And finally, I want to thank God, and ask
for his protection over us as we serve President Trump,
Vice President Pence, and our beloved country.
Thank you.
(applause)
The President: Come on, you can give them a kiss now.
(applause)