The President: Thank you very much, everybody.
I appreciate it.
That's some big people behind me.
Big, strong, brilliant people.
Please sit down.
I want to thank everybody for being here on this
very special occasion.
It's an honor every single day to serve as your
Commander-in-Chief to the incredible men and women
of the United States Air Force -- very special,
beautiful place.
Very, very special.
(Applause.)
I also want to welcome the acting
Secretary of the Air Force, Lisa Disbrow, and
Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
The Cadets here represent not only
the future of our Air Force, but also the future
of our country.
Their skill, dedication, loyalty, and patriotism
represent the very best of America.
Thanks especially to the Air Force Academy
Superintendent, Lieutenant General Michelle Johnson,
and for your outstanding stewardship.
You have been truly outstanding, Michelle, and
we appreciate it so much.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
Developing leaders, character --
I mean, so many things are developed at the Academy.
It's really an amazing, amazing job they do.
And we all joined the very proud and distinguished
heritage of the long, blue line.
You know what that is, fellas, right?
(Applause.)
That's a long, big, beautiful, blue line.
I would also like to welcome several members of
Congress who are here today, including -- maybe
just stand up for a second -- Doug Lamborn -- hi,
Doug -- Ted Poe -- Ted, thank you, Ted --
Don Bacon -- hi, Don -- Doug Collins, and my friend,
Martha McSally, who, by the way, I think can fly a
plane maybe better than anybody up here.
(Applause.)
She's the real deal -- right, Martha?
She's tough.
She likes a certain plane, which I'm going to mention
in a minute.
She specifically likes a certain aircraft, right?
Thank you very much.
And how's healthcare coming, folks?
How's it doing?
All right we're moving along?
All right.
I think it's time now, right?
Right?
They know it's time.
Thank you.
Thank you for being here, folks.
We're also pleased to be joined by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, David Shulkin, who's doing an
incredible job with the veterans.
Thank you, David.
(Applause.)
Taking care of our veterans, for me --
and this has been one of my absolute highest
priorities and the highest priority, just about, of
the administration -- and David is working
tirelessly to deliver the care our veterans so
richly deserve.
And it should have happened years ago, but
it's happening right now.
So thank you very much, David.
(Applause.)
Our Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin,
is here with us as well.
Steven is determined to bring jobs and prosperity
back to the United States, and he is really doing
some very great service with a very complicated
set of circumstances, and it's working out well.
So, Steven, thank you very much.
(Applause.)
Finally -- and in this particular case,
David and Steven and Congress folks -- we have
to say this: We are truly and deeply proud to
welcome the Falcons of the United States Air Force
Academy to the White House, most importantly.
(Applause.)
Congratulations to you all.
Coach Calhoun, you and your team had quite a season.
Like good Air Force guys, you flew under the
radar to victory.
You know, we're buying a lot of those
under-the-radar planes.
In fact, you can fly over the radar -- you're still
not going to beat that plane.
It cost a lot of money, I'll tell you that.
(Laughter.)
This week, our Republican team had its own victory
under the radar.
That is a very important thing for the men and
women of the United States military.
And it's a very important thing for the people of
our country.
In our new budget -- and it's been a very hotly
contested budget because, as you know, we have to go
through a long and rigorous process -- but
we've ended years of painful cuts to our
military and just achieved a $21 billion increase in
defense spending.
(Applause.)
And we didn't do any touting like the Democrats did,
by the way.
Not only did we achieve this massive and badly
needed increase in defense, but we did so
without having to put in place an equal increase in
nondefense spending, breaking the so-called
parity rule that was breaking our budget and
degrading our military, And that's not happening
anymore, that I can tell you with surety.
So you're going to have the money we need and the
equipment we need.
(Applause.)
There will never be a time, I will tell you this,
when we will be spending more
money -- we are doing the necessary money.
We're going to have the finest equipment of all
types -- whether it's airplanes, or ships, or
equipment in general -- that we've ever had in the
history of our country.
We are taking care of our military, and we're not
going to go back to what we were doing for the last
long period of time.
Our military is going to be taken care of.
That I promise you.
Thank you.
Thank you, folks.
(Applause.)
With this major investment in the America's national defense
-- a core campaign promise
of mine -- we are at last reversing years of
military cuts, and showing our determination and
resolve to the entire world.
And believe me, the entire world is watching, and we
have resolved like never, ever before.
These long-awaited increases will make
America more safe and more secure, and give our
amazing service members the tools, equipment,
training, and resources they need and they very
much deserve.
To top that, we achieved the single largest
increase in border security funding in 10 years.
So we have more money now for the border than we've
gotten in 10 years.
(Applause.)
The Democrats didn't tell you that.
They forgot.
In their notes, they forgot to tell you that.
With enough money to make a down payment on the
border wall -- I think they will go back and
check their papers.
This includes swiftly replacing ineffective and
failing fencing and walls with an unbreakable barrier.
So we're putting up a lot of new walls in certain areas.
We're putting up a tremendous amount of money
to fix the existing structures that we have,
some of which we can keep into the future.
They're in good shape, but we have to bring them back
to the highest level.
We'll be doing that with this payment.
And make no mistake, we are beginning to build the
wall, and we will keep out the gang members,
criminals, drug and human traffickers that threaten
our citizens and that threaten security.
(Applause.)
Any member of Congress who opposes our
plans on border security -- and I know these folks
didn't -- is only empowering these deadly
and dangerous threats.
And we will not put up with it, and the public
won't put up with it.
This bill also includes important healthcare
resources for our great coal miners who have not
been treated well, but now they're being treated very
well, and continues to make funding available so
inner-city children here right in the nation's
capital can go to the school of their choice.
(Applause.)
Choice is so important.
After years of partisan bickering and gridlock,
this bill is a clear win for the American people.
We brought lawmakers together from both sides
of the aisle to deliver a budget that funds the
rebuilding of the United States military, makes
historic investments in border security, and
provides healthcare for our minors and school
choice for our disadvantaged children.
Very importantly, there is no long-term bailout for
the insurance companies that the Democrats
desperately wanted to subsidize -- donors -- the
badly failing Obamacare.
Do you know what a donor is, fellas?
You'll learn when you get a little older.
You'll learn about donors.
I used to be a donor.
Used to get everything I wanted.
This is what winning looks like, something that you
folks really know a lot about.
What a record.
The Falcons had 10 wins and only three losses, a
tremendous achievement.
And they played tough, tough teams.
(Applause.)
And they played some teams that
were slightly larger, right, Coach?
Coach Calhoun: Oh, yeah.
The President: Slightly -- Coach is saying, boy,
they're big.
But you beat them, right?
Coach Calhoun: We did.
The President: You beat them.
He knows how to win.
Just spoke to Bob Kraft of the New England Patriots,
right, and he gave you a little pep talk.
And he's a big fan, too.
But we know one thing.
As good as this coach is, even he says he's not
replacing Belichick -- is that right?
(Laughter.)
But someplace else.
You're going to stay where you are.
You better stay right where you are, Coach, right?
(Laughter and applause.)
Don't let -- you better
never leave us.
He better never leave.
(Laughter.)
And the Falcons -- not only that,
finished very strong.
You ended the season with six straight victories,
including a win in the Arizona Bowl, which
is a big deal.
Who did you beat?
Coach Calhoun: We beat South Alabama.
The President: South Alabama.
Good team, too.
But we all know the games that you're most proud of
-- I shouldn't say this, because I love these
teams, too.
Should I say it?
(Laughter.)
I thought they were great Americans, Coach.
Coach Calhoun: They all are.
The President: All right.
The games they were -- they beat Navy -- good team.
(Applause.)
Do I have to give the score?
Coach: Yes!
The President: Beat Navy 28-14.
And you beat West Point 31-12.
(Applause.)
Does anybody feel guilty that you made me do that?
No?
(Laughter.)
It's a great privilege for me for the
first time to present you the Commander-in-Chief's
Trophy, my first time.
Established in 1972, the Commander-in-Chief's
Trophy has been claimed by the Air Force Academy --
this is pretty hard to understand.
You did go under the radar, Coach.
It's really an amazing thing.
A record -- listen to this -- 20 times.
You have the record.
More than any other of the service academies.
(Applause.)
Pretty amazing.
As the United States Air Force celebrates its 70th
birthday this year, this trophy will serve as a
point of pride for the Academy's cadets,
graduates, and all of the members, past and present,
of the United States Air Force that we love.
(Applause.)
I love the Air Force.
I love those planes.
I love buying those planes at a reduced price.
I have been really -- I have cut billions -- I
have to tell you this, and they can check, right, Martha?
I have cut billions and billions of dollars off
plane contracts sitting here.
Do they give me credit?
No, but that's okay.
So we can either do one of two things -- we can buy
more planes, or we can cut the budget.
What do you want to do?
She says buy more planes.
I think you're right.
Nowadays I think you're right.
As proud as we are of your achievements on the field,
we are even more proud of you, and all of those who
attend our service academies, in general, for
your distinguished service on behalf of our great nation.
Whenever an Air Force crew flies, you'll always find
a powerful symbol of American strength and
American prestige.
From the A-10 "Wart-Hog" -- stand up, Martha.
This is what she'd fly.
She said, please, please, Mr. President, order more.
You think that's just a great plane, right?
It does some pretty big damage, I know that.
Okay, and we're working on that, okay?
She loves that plane -- to the F-16 "Viper" -- not as good?
Not as good.
(Laughter.)
To the B-2 "Spirit" -- a little
different, but still, no?
Pretty good, though.
Our proud aircraft and airmen fill our friends --
and you wouldn't believe it -- with the level of
confidence, and they really, truly strike fear
into the hearts of our enemies.
And I tell you, we have so many of those
planes coming in.
We have planes coming in from all different corners
and all different sizes and speeds and with
different capabilities.
You're going to be very proud of what we're doing
with the Air Force.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
Thank you.
And wherever our space and cyber airmen operate
world-class systems for modern warfare, the full
might of America will be on display for all to see.
With the new budget increases we have achieved
in our spending bill, we'll be able to purchase
the greatest planes ever built, including the F-35
-- that is some plane -- and the next generation of
military aircraft.
We will maintain and expand our superiority in
the air, and our ability to protect and project
America's vital security interests.
Just across the river, not far from the White House,
stands a soaring tribute to the men and women of
the United States Air Force.
The three arching spires of the Air Force Memorial
represent the core values of this noble branch of
our Armed Forces: Integrity first; service
before self; excellence in all you do.
For 70 years, the United States Air Force has
embodied those principles.
I know each of you will uphold these standards
with devotion and dignity throughout your
military career.
And I know that each of you will continue to make
your country proud.
They're great people.
I met everybody in the Oval Office.
They actually said this is the first time you've been
invited into the Oval Office, and actually the
New England Patriots said that last week, that they
were not invited in.
But we invite them into the Oval Office.
I think we should invite them into the Oval Office,
right, don't you think?
(Applause.)
But we're very, very proud of you, Coach.
Together, the five branches of the United
States Armed Forces -- Army, Navy, Marines, Air
Force and Coast Guard -- are the greatest force for
peace and justice the world has ever known.
And believe me, getting stronger and stronger and
stronger by the day.
One of the reasons that I was elected, one of the
reasons that I'm standing here is because people
want their military to be strong -- not weak, but
strong, really strong.
(Applause.)
You keep us safe, you keep us strong,
and you keep us free.
Thank you all for your service, and
congratulations again to the winners of the
Commander in Chief's Trophy, the great Air
Force Falcons.
Thank you.
Congratulations.
(Applause.)
With that, I'd like to invite Coach
Troy Calhoun, a great coach -- loved by his
players, by the way.
I said, do you love him or do you dislike him?
And, by the way, some coaches are pretty well
disliked, but they're good coaches, too.
But I like this combination much better --
a great coach, Troy Calhoun.
And congratulations, Coach.
(Applause.)
Coach Calhoun: Thank you.
Appreciate it.
Mr. President, we're overwhelmed with the
graciousness of you and your staff.
This certainly has been an unbelievable trip for our
young men and young women that have been
able to come along.
And we are so proud.
In only three weeks, under your command, they will
become commissioned and second lieutenants in our
United States Air Force.
And what they will bring is courage, integrity, boldness.
And, unquestionably, they're champions, but
more than anything else they're absolute winners.
So, ladies and gentlemen, the young men and young
women of the United States Air Force Academy.
(Applause.)
At this time, we have a couple of
mementos we'd like to leave for the President.
I will say this: Our Commander-in-Chief, you
look at our roster, we never have anybody that's
ever worn jersey number one.
Here in the last nine years, I think we've got a
new tenant holder who -- to that spot.
So, sir, I'm going to invite up Weston
Steelhammer and Jacobi Owens, two our captains,
to present a little gift to you.
(Applause.)
The President: How about our members of Congress
come up here?
(The gifts are presented.)