President Donald Trump Speech in Poland – Rush Limbaugh said one of the best Presidential Speeches of all time
A Reaganesque speech, you will not hear this on the Drive By FAKE NEWS, but you can here it here.
President Donald Trump delivers a speech at Krasinski Square at the Royal Castle, Thursday, July 6, 2017, in Warsaw, Poland.
By ROGER KIMBALL of PJMedia Read the rest here
If you want to know why Donald Trump will go down in history as a great president, listen to (or read, when it is available) his speech in Krasinski Square, Warsaw today.
Yes, there is a lot of the usual diplomatic persiflage: “Thank you, President Duda. Thank you, Poland.” But be an adult and distinguish the gem from the setting. While the anti-Trump press was busy running stories warning about “unease in Brussels” over Trump’s visit to Poland, Trump once again totally outflanked his critics. Those who have ears, let them hear:
- The United States is absolutely committed to securing Poland’s access to alternative sources of energy. Now, to whom do you think that was addressed? What country would use access to oil and gas as political blackmail (do what we say or you can’t warm your homes, light your streets, run your factories)? Who would do such a thing?
- The United States is absolutely committed to its trans-Atlantic partnership. That partnership, said Trump in his aspirational mode, has never been stronger: suitably translated, that means that he wishes to assure that it will never be stronger. It was a proffered hand. Will the EU bureaucrats reach out and grasp it?
- Speaking of bureaucrats, Trump also?mirabile dictu?warned about “steady creep of government bureaucracy” that, left unchecked, saps a people’s will and makes the flourishing of individual initiative, the very marrow of freedom, impossible. This was a direct kick against the administrative state: I like to see it. Drain the Swamp.
- Trump reaffirmed his absolute commitment to Article 5 of the NATO agreement — the bit that pledges members to “collective defense”: an attack on one member is an attack on all. He praised Poland for stepping up to meet its statutory financial commitment to NATO and urged other European countries to do the same. A strong NATO means a strong Europe.
RUSH: CNN, folks, it’s hilarious. It is amazing. It’s unbelievable to watch what this collection of people claiming to be journalists is doing to themselves. It’s a circular firing squad. They’re shooting themselves in the foot. They’re setting themselves on fire, and they’re doing it all with righteous indignation at a man they hate running intellectual and tactical rings around them.
So Trump is over there in Poland and in Germany and he’s doing his no-apology tour, as opposed to Obama’s, which were apology tours. You know, Trump’s not apologizing for anything. And the press, “So, are you ready to admit that the Russians and you colluded? Are you ready to admit it?” And Trump says, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Nobody knows for sure.” And they blow up. For the last year these people have been devoted to proving something that didn’t happen, collusion, Trump, Russia, to screw Hillary out of the presidency.
It’s nothing but lies. It’s nothing but manufactured, total BS that has now become a reality to these people. And all Trump has to say, “Well, you know, nobody really knows.” (laughing) And they blow up. And this Little Jim Acosta is literally making a fool of himself. He’s a CNN reporter, and he’s the guy that went bat nuts about two weeks ago over Trump refusing to call on him and then referring to CNN as fake news. And then the CNN mock wrestling gif. He’s losing his mind. They all are at CNN.
And so today Jim Acosta accused Trump of engaging in fake news. The definition of fake news at CNN is if Trump takes a question from a conservative reporter, a friendly reporter. That is fake news. Acosta actually tweeted, “Isn’t it a fake news conference to take a question from a reporter who is essentially an ally of the White House.”
Now, in order to understand what comes next, you have to understand who Acosta is. He’s like everybody else in Washington. These are pseudointellectuals. You must understand the way they see themselves. They see themselves as better, smarter, more important, more relevant, more necessary, just generally better people than all the rest of us. They have no humility whatsoever. They do not know what they don’t know.
They have no capability of humility. They have no ability to admit that there are things that they don’t know. As such they are ripe to be made fools of. And this Acosta guy is basically putting his own bag of manure in front of himself and stepping in it every day. Trump is just assisting a little bit, but he’s not even collecting the manure. CNN’s doing that. Trump may be furnishing the bag, but these people are putting it in front of themselves and then stepping in it.
So Acosta tweets, “Isn’t it a fake news conference to take a question from a reporter who is essentially an ally of the White House?” Donald Trump Jr. responds. “So by that logic, Little Jim, every news conference for the last eight years with Obama was fake news. You would know.” But it isn’t just Donald Trump Jr. Ari Fleischer: “Jim, do you care to guess how many questions I took from reporters who went on to join the Obama White House?” Ari Fleischer was Bush’s first press secretary.
Here’s Acosta saying these conservative reporters, you know, they’re Trump’s allies, they’re supporters of Trump, these conservative people. That means it’s fake news. And Ari Fleischer is pointing out, you know, Jim, how many of your buddies who are in the press corps during the Bush administration then went on to join the actual Obama administration?
The tweets, the memes, the gifs making fun of CNN with Trump savaging them, they’re getting too many to watch, too many to count. CNN has become a laughingstock and doesn’t know it. That’s what’s funny about it. They don’t know it. They’re aware of all of this, but because they have no humility and because they have no sense of their true place in the universe, they are incapable of actually having this register in terms of its reality.
So Trump’s press conference is in Poland ? oh, by the way, let me tell you about this. There’s another thing about Poland. The Drive-By Media today, a couple different places, reported that Trump is so unpopular in Poland. This is a flat-out lie. I mean, this is just total flat-out fake news. They reported Trump as so unpopular in Poland that they had to bus in the few supporters in the country they could find that would cheer Trump.
That’s not at all what happened.
Trump is so popular the Polish government had to organize the numbers of people and they sponsored bus trips to facilitate traffic management and logistics and all that. There were so many people that wanted to see Trump that they found a way to bus them in and keep it somewhat organized.
But the Drive-By Media, including CNN, wants you to believe, they are reporting that Poland could only find 5,000 citizens in the whole country who cared to see Trump. That they don’t like Trump, that they wish Trump would go away, because Trump likes Merkel and Trump likes Putin and the Polish people hate Putin and they hate Merkel. It’s just the exact opposite. Trump is on the exact same page as Polish people via Merkel and Putin, and the Polish people know it.
I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve never seen a professional organization of any kind become so consumed with rage and hatred and other destructive emotions that they are actually self-destructing before our eyes and unaware that that’s what they’re doing. They made the common mistake, as I continue to point out, that they believe that everybody thinks like they do, everybody out there across the fruited plain, everybody inside the Beltway. When you stand aside from this and gaze upon it, Trump is just a master at playing these people. He also got a dig in at Obama, and he ripped into American intel sources and the intel community.
And the Drive-Bys are outraged. CNN’s been running a banner all day: “Trump Blasts America on Foreign Trip.” “Trump Blasts Intel Community on Foreign Trip.” “Trump Blasts Obama.” Of course, in a sense it’s true, but they have no context. What Trump’s referring to is the intel community, weapons of mass destruction. He’s being asked by the media, “So? so do you think the intel community was right when they said 17 different agencies realized that you colluded with Russia? Do you think that’s right?” And Trump said, “Well, I don’t know that anybody really knows for sure what happened,” and they blow gaskets.
Carotid arteries are about to burst, and Trump says, “Look at weapons of mass destruction. The intelligence communities all over the world said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. We get over there; we couldn’t find any.” CNN with a banner: “Trump Bashes Intel Community While in Poland on Foreign Soil.” Well, let’s not forget who led the charge in bashing the intel community over weapons of mass destruction. The Drive-By Media! The Drive-By Media not only bashed the intel community, they tried to destroy George W. Bush, whether he was on domestic soil or foreign soil.
They hate Trump. David Gelernter has a great, great piece today in the Wall Street Journal. Now, his piece is actually about why conservative intellectuals are flat-out wrong in their opposition to Trump and how they’re flat-out phony in their opposition to Trump. And in the process he describes (I think accurately( why much of the hatred for Trump inside the Beltway exists. I’ll get to it in just a moment. Like I tell you today, folks, I am sitting here overwhelmed with opportunities to share things with you. So as I think of these things the brain synapses fire.
I guarantee you, I promise you: If I reference it here, I will get the details later in the program before we wrap up today. But it’s a perfect analogy. You know, when asked for the hundredth time if he believed the intel claims? Here’s another thing. (chuckles) We’re back to Jim Acosta again. Trump today, in answering the question for the hundredth time if he believed the intelligence community claims that the Russians meddled in the election, Trump said, “Well, I don’t think it’s all 17. I think it was only three now.”
Jim Acosta ran to Twitter (paraphrased), “Trump is an idiot! Trump is a buffoon! It is 17 intelligence agencies who all agree that the Russians tampered with the election to try to benefit Trump!” Well, as you’ll remember from yesterday’s show, the New York Times and the AP had to do massive corrections and massive deletions and massive pullbacks because it isn’t 17; it was only three people ? three people who agreed with James Clapper, who was Obama’s Director of National Intelligence. It was reported in January that 17 intel agencies all agreed that Russia tampered with Putin to benefit Trump.
They had to pull that back. They did the correction over the weekend. We heralded it major yesterday. Jim Acosta doesn’t know. Jim Acosta, a reporter at CNN, simply doesn’t know that the AP and the New York Times had to issue the corrections. It isn’t 17. So he’s out there tweeting what an idiot Trump is. He’s tweeting what a liar Trump is, that Trump doesn’t know, that Trump is ignorant. When in fact it’s Acosta who is the CNN reporter who ? according to job description ? should be on top of this stuff.
I mean, these people, the New York Times is their bible. They should know everything in the New York Times, and it is becoming clear that people that work for CNN are among the least informed people in Washington. It’s just delicious. It is fascinating. I was reminded. I didn’t even? I had forgotten this. John Hinderaker at Power Line had posted something back in 2009 about CNN. The title of the tweet I think, I think, is, “Rush Is Out.” The post was about was how CNN knowingly broadcast fake quotes attributed to me during the period of time it had been announced that I was part of a minority ownership group to buy the St. Louis Rams.
CNN happily bannered and broadcast all of these fake quotes from me, and this post from Power Line in 2009 was among their most clicked on yesterday, and they wanted to find out why. They found it was because of a tweet from Dan Riehl and also an old tweet from Andrew Breitbart about CNN being evil. The Power Line people used it just to illustrate that the fake news business is nothing new to CNN, that they have been doing it for years. It was 2009. That’s eight years ago, and they broadcast a quote of something I never said.
It was later learned to be manufactured out of thin air by a scraggly little left-wing author who had written a book filled with fake quotes attributed to countless conservatives, most of them about me. It was about how I supported slavery. I supposedly supported slavery ’cause the streets were safer at night, and CNN ran with this quote. The Power Line post was all about how anybody who listens would know it’s BS, that CNN was behaving irresponsibly. But the context of it was that the fake news that is CNN is not exclusive to Trump, and it isn’t anything new.
It is what and who CNN has been for years.
Trump is playing them like a Stradivarius. Trump said, “I think it was Russia. I think it could have been other people. Nobody really knows for sure. I remember when I was sitting back listening about Iraq, weapons of mass destruction, how everybody was 100% sure that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction,” Trump said. “Well, guess what? That led to one big mess. They were wrong, and it led to a mess.” The media is literally blowing gaskets at this. They can’t handle it. They have their meme. They have their narrative. The intel community now is unassailable. The intelligence community is universally, always 1,000% right.
And they are all agreeing (but they don’t) that Putin attempted to interfere in the American election so that Trump would win. It’s a BS pack of lies that they have now reported for so long they actually believe it. And if anybody comes along and raises questions about the veracity, the honesty, the accuracy of the intelligence community? Why, the Drive-Bys can’t handle it. This self-immolation, this meltdown is occurring in public in front of everyone’s eyes, not behind the scenes. In other words, everybody is able to watch it.
And Trump is just masterful at tweaking these people, at playing them off of each other. He knows how to push their buttons. It’s funny, because they’re sitting there in these press conferences thinking, “This is the day we’re gonna destroy Trump! This is the day we’re gonna expose Trump. This is the day we’re gonna prove that Trump is a poseur. We’re gonna prove that Trump’s a fraud.” And every day it is Trump making fools of them, except they don’t know that. They don’t have the humility or the sense of awareness to understand that they’re being made fools of. It’s fascinating to watch.
RUSH: Angela Merkel says that success is based on open societies and shared values. Not the way she means, and I’m gonna explain why I say that in quoting from Donald Trump today in his speech in Poland. It is amazing. It is the first such speech of its kind since Ronald Reagan. I’m not kidding you. George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush got close. But what Trump did today with his speech in Poland ? actually, with his conclusion. The whole thing is awesome. But he started about 75% of the way in, and it is stunning.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: I’m gonna share with you the salient point of Trump’s speech in Poland today that ? well, Roger Kimball of PJ Media says this speech is one of many that’s going to end up defining Donald Trump as one of the greatest presidents ever. And this speech that Trump gave today has not been given, has not even been attempted by any president since Ronald Reagan.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: Here is a salient point or part of the Trump speech in Poland today that sets up what I think is phenomenal. It’s audio sound bite number 6. Here it is.
THE PRESIDENT: Your oppressors tried to break you, but Poland could not be broken. And when the day came on June 2nd, 1979, and one million Poles gathered around Victory Square for their very first Mass with their Polish pope, that day every communist in Warsaw must have known that their oppressive system would soon come crashing down. They must have known it at the exact moment during Pope John Paul II’s sermon when a million Polish men, women, and children suddenly raised their voices in a single prayer. A million Polish people did not ask for wealth. They did not ask for privilege. Instead, one million Poles saying three simple words: “We want God.”
RUSH: And he’s right. That was a huge moment in the destruction of Soviet communism, Pope John Paul, part of the troika with Margaret Thatcher, Ronaldus Magnus, bringing down the Soviet Union. And Pope John Paul II, a fervent anti-communist went to Poland as pope, and the country went crazy for him. But after that comment is where Trump got to the heart of his speech.
He said, “The prerequisite for the success of Western civilization is not material riches. Economic prosperity and military might on their own are not sufficient. The critical leaven is the confidence in core Western values, such things as free speech, the equality of women, respect for individual rights, the rule of law, the affirmation of faith and family. Hence, the fundamental question facing Western nations today is whether the people continue to nurture the cultural self-confidence in those fundamental values. If they do, the West is unbeatable. If those values dissipate, the West is lost. As long as we know our history,” Trump said, “We will know how to build our future.”
Then he spent a lot of time rehearsing Poland’s heroic resistance to Nazi atrocities in the Warsaw uprising, heroic resistance to Soviet aggression. Roger Kimball, who heard the speech, wrote at PJ Media: “Not since Ronald Reagan has an American president gone so clearly to the nub of what makes the West great and what threatens that greatness.”
And he’s talking about Western civilization, Western values, American culture. This distinct American culture that resulted from our founding that is now under assault, not just from enemies around the world, but from enemies within. That distinctive American culture which has given freedom its greatest repository and chance in the world is under assault from the American media and its agents in the Democrat Party and in academia and in Hollywood. The threat to American Western civilization is now primarily domestic, and it has to be beaten back if we are to survive. It’s a battle to the death, folks, and we’re smack-dab in the middle of it. And Trump’s the only president since Reagan to acknowledge it.
Transcript
English
0-00
Mrs. Trump- Hello, Poland!
0-08
Thank you very much.
0-11
My husband and I have enjoyed visiting
0-13
your beautiful country.
0-16
I want to thank President and Mrs. Duda
0-20
for the warm welcome and their generous hospitality.
0-25
I had the opportunity to visit the Copernicus Science Centre today,
0-30
and found it not only informative but thoughtful,
0-35
its mission, which is to inspire people to observe, experiment,
0-42
ask questions, and seek answers.
0-45
I can think of no better purpose for such a wonderful science center.
0-54
Thank you to all who were involved in giving us
0-57
the tour, especially the children who made it
1-01
such a wonderful experience.
1-04
As many of you know, a main focus of my husband’s
1-08
presidency is safety and security of the American people.
1-13
I think all of us can agree people should be able
1-19
to live their lives without fear, no matter
1-23
what country they live in.
1-27
That is my wish for all of us around the world.
1-32
(Applause.)
1-36
Thank you again for this wonderful welcome
1-40
to your very special country.
1-42
Your kindness and gracious hospitality
1-46
will not be forgotten.
1-50
(Applause.)
1-52
And now it is my honor to introduce
1-55
to you my husband, the President of the United States,
2-00
Donald J. Trump.
2-03
(Applause.)
2-11
The President- Thank you very much.
2-30
That’s so nice.
2-33
The United States has many great diplomats,
2-35
but there is truly no better ambassador for our country
2-40
than our beautiful First Lady, Melania.
2-43
Thank you, Melania.
2-44
That was very nice.
2-46
(Applause.)
2-48
We’ve come to your nation to deliver
2-50
a very important message- America loves Poland,
2-55
and America loves the Polish people.
2-58
(Applause.)
2-59
Thank you.
3-02
The Poles have not only greatly enriched this region,
3-05
but Polish-Americans have also
3-08
greatly enriched the United States, and I was
3-12
truly proud to have their support in the 2016 election.
3-18
(Applause.)
3-23
It is a profound honor to stand
3-25
in this city, by this monument to the Warsaw Uprising,
3-31
and to address the Polish nation that
3-34
so many generations have dreamed of- a Poland that
3-40
is safe, strong, and free.
3-46
(Applause.)
3-49
President Duda and your wonderful First Lady, Agata,
3-54
have welcomed us
3-56
with the tremendous warmth and kindness for which Poland
3-59
is known around the world.
4-02
Thank you.
4-04
(Applause.)
4-06
My sincere — and I mean sincerely thank both of them.
4-15
And to Prime Minister Syzdlo, a very special thanks also.
4-22
(Applause.)
4-25
We are also pleased that former President Leck Walesa,
4-31
so famous for leading
4-32
the Solidarity Movement, has joined us today, also.
4-36
(Applause.)
4-38
Thank you.
4-39
Thank you.
4-44
Thank you.
4-47
On behalf of all Americans, let me also thank
4-51
the entire Polish people for the generosity
4-55
you have shown in welcoming our soldiers
4-58
to your country.
4-59
These soldiers are not only brave defenders of freedom,
5-02
but also symbols of America’s commitment
5-06
to your security and your place in a strong
5-11
and democratic Europe.
5-18
We are proudly joined on stage by American,
5-22
Polish, British, and Romanian soldiers.
5-25
Thank you.
5-28
(Applause.)
5-29
Thank you.
5-31
Great job.
5-33
President Duda and I have just come from
5-36
an incredibly successful meeting with the leaders
5-39
participating in the Three Seas Initiative.
5-44
To the citizens of this great region,
5-47
America is eager to expand our partnership with you.
5-51
We welcome stronger ties of trade and commerce
5-55
as you grow your economies.
5-57
And we are committed to securing your access
6-00
to alternate sources of energy, so Poland and its neighbors
6-05
are never again held hostage
6-08
to a single supplier of energy.
6-15
(Applause.)
6-17
Mr. President, I congratulate you,
6-19
along with the President of Croatia, on your leadership
6-26
of this historic Three Seas Initiative.
6-30
Thank you.
6-32
(Applause.)
6-35
This is my first visit to Central Europe as President,
6-39
and I am thrilled that it could be right here
6-43
at this magnificent, beautiful piece of land.
6-49
It is beautiful.
6-51
(Applause.)
6-53
Poland is the geographic heart of Europe,
6-57
but more importantly, in the Polish people,
7-00
we see the soul of Europe.
7-06
Your nation is great because your spirit
7-11
is great and your spirit is strong.
7-15
(Applause.)
7-21
For two centuries, Poland suffered constant
7-24
and brutal attacks.
7-26
But while Poland could be invaded and occupied,
7-30
and its borders even erased from the map,
7-34
it could never be erased from history or from your hearts.
7-39
In those dark days, you have lost your land
7-45
but you never lost your pride.
7-49
(Applause.)
7-53
So, it is with true admiration
7-55
that I can say today, that from the farms and villages
8-00
of your countryside to the cathedrals and squares
8-05
of your great cities, Poland lives, Poland prospers,
8-10
and Poland prevails.
8-13
(Applause.)
8-17
Despite every effort to transform you,
8-20
oppress you, or destroy you, you endured and overcame.
8-25
You are the proud nation of Copernicus — think of that —
8-35
(Applause.)
8-36
— Chopin, Saint John Paul II.
8-41
Poland is a land of great heroes.
8-46
(Applause.)
8-50
And you are a people who know the true value
8-53
of what you defend.
8-57
The triumph of the Polish spirit over centuries
9-01
of hardship gives us all hope for a future in which good
9-06
conquers evil, and peace achieves victory over war.
9-13
For Americans, Poland has been a symbol of hope
9-17
since the beginning of our nation.
9-20
Polish heroes and American patriots fought side by side
9-26
in our War of Independence and in many wars that followed.
9-32
Our soldiers still serve together today
9-34
in Afghanistan and Iraq, combatting the enemies
9-38
of all civilization.
9-41
For America’s part, we have never given up
9-44
on freedom and independence as the right and destiny
9-49
of the Polish people, and we never, ever will.
9-54
(Applause.)
9-59
Our two countries share a special bond
10-02
forged by unique histories and national characters.
10-07
It’s a fellowship that exists only among people
10-10
who have fought and bled and died for freedom.
10-15
(Applause.)
10-18
The signs of this friendship
10-20
stand in our nation’s capital.
10-23
Just steps from the White House, we’ve raised statues
10-28
of men with names like Pulaski and Kosciuszko.
10-34
(Applause.)
10-38
The same is true in Warsaw,
10-40
where street signs carry the name of George Washington,
10-44
and a monument stands to one of the world’s
10-47
greatest heroes, Ronald Reagan.
10-54
(Applause.)
10-58
And so, I am here today not just to visit an old ally,
10-59
but to hold it up as an example
11-01
for others who seek freedom and who wish
11-04
to summon the courage and the will
11-07
to defend our civilization.
11-14
(Applause.)
11-15
The story of Poland is the story
11-18
of a people who have never lost hope, who have never
11-22
been broken, and who have never, ever forgotten
11-26
who they are.
11-31
(Applause)
11-35
Audience- Donald Trump!
11-38
Donald Trump!
11-40
Donald Trump!
11-47
The President- Thank you.
11-52
Thank you so much.
11-53
Thank you.
11-56
Thank you so much.
11-57
Such a great honor.
11-59
This is a nation more than one thousand years old.
12-03
Your borders were erased for more than a century
12-07
and only restored just one century ago.
12-13
In 1920, in the Miracle of Vistula,
12-18
Poland stopped the Soviet army bent on European conquest.
12-31
(Applause.)
12-33
Then, 19 years later in 1939,
12-34
you were invaded yet again, this time by Nazi Germany
12-37
from the west and the Soviet Union from the east.
12-41
That’s trouble.
12-45
That’s tough.
12-48
Under a double occupation the Polish people endured
12-51
evils beyond description- the Katyn forest massacre,
12-57
the occupations, the Holocaust, the Warsaw Ghetto
13-02
and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising,
13-04
the destruction of this beautiful capital city,
13-08
and the deaths of nearly one in five Polish people.
13-15
A vibrant Jewish population — the largest
13-17
in Europe — was reduced to almost nothing after
13-21
the Nazis systematically murdered millions
13-25
of Poland’s Jewish citizens, along with countless
13-29
others, during that brutal occupation.
13-33
In the summer of 1944, the Nazi and Soviet armies
13-38
were preparing for a terrible and bloody battle
13-42
right here in Warsaw.
13-43
Amid that hell on earth, the citizens of Poland
13-46
rose up to defend their homeland.
13-49
I am deeply honored to be joined on stage today
13-52
by veterans and heroes of the Warsaw Uprising.
14-01
(Applause.)
14-08
Audience- (Chanting.)
14-26
The President- What great spirit.
14-29
We salute your noble sacrifice and we pledge
14-31
to always remember your fight for Poland
14-35
and for freedom.
14-36
Thank you.
14-38
Thank you.
14-38
(Applause.)
14-41
This monument reminds us that more than 150,000 Poles died
14-48
during that desperate struggle
14-50
to overthrow oppression.
14-53
From the other side of the river, the Soviet armed forces
14-57
stopped and waited.
15-00
They watched as the Nazis ruthlessly destroyed the city,
15-06
viciously murdering men, women, and children.
15-09
They tried to destroy this nation forever
15-11
by shattering its will to survive.
15-14
But there is a courage and a strength deep
15-16
in the Polish character that no one could destroy.
15-20
The Polish martyr, Bishop Michael Kozal, said it well,
15-27
“More horrifying than a defeat of arms
15-30
is a collapse of the human spirit.”
15-35
Through four decades of communist rule, Poland
15-38
and the other captive nations of Europe endured a brutal
15-43
campaign to demolish freedom, your faith,
15-46
your laws, your history, your identity —
15-50
indeed the very essence of your culture and your humanity.
15-55
Yet, through it all, you never lost that spirit.
16-03
(Applause.)
16-06
Your oppressors tried to break you, but Poland could not be broken.
16-14
(Applause.)
16-18
And when the day came on June 2nd, 1979,
16-22
and one million Poles gathered around
16-25
Victory Square for their very first mass with their
16-29
Polish Pope, that day, every communist in Warsaw
16-33
must have known that their oppressive system would
16-37
soon come crashing down.
16-41
(Applause.)
16-44
They must have known it at the exact moment
16-47
during Pope John Paul II’s sermon
16-49
when a million Polish men, women, and children
16-53
suddenly raised their voices in a single prayer.
16-57
A million Polish people did not ask for wealth.
17-04
They did not ask for privilege.
17-06
Instead, one million Poles sang three simple words,
17-11
“We Want God.”
17-16
(Applause.)
17-21
In those words, the Polish people recalled the promise
17-24
of a better future.
17-26
They found new courage to face down their oppressors,
17-30
and they found the words to declare
17-34
that Poland would be Poland once again.
17-38
As I stand here today before this incredible crowd,
17-43
this faithful nation, we can still hear those voices
17-48
that echo through history.
17-51
Their message is as true today as ever.
17-55
The people of Poland, the people of America,
17-59
and the people of Europe still cry out “We want God.”
18-06
(Applause.)
18-10
Together, with Pope John Paul II,
18-12
the Poles reasserted their identity as a nation
18-17
devoted to God.
18-19
And with that powerful declaration of who you are,
18-23
you came to understand what to do and how to live.
18-28
You stood in solidarity against oppression,
18-31
against a lawless secret police, against a cruel
18-35
and wicked system that impoverished your cities
18-38
and your souls.
18-40
And you won.
18-42
Poland prevailed.
18-44
Poland will always prevail.
18-48
(Applause.)
18-56
Audience- Donald Trump!
18-58
Donald Trump!
19-01
Donald Trump!
19-13
The President- Thank you.
19-15
You were supported in that victory over communism
19-18
by a strong alliance of free nations in the West
19-21
that defied tyranny.
19-24
Now, among the most committed members
19-27
of the NATO Alliance, Poland has resumed its place
19-31
as a leading nation of a Europe that is strong, whole, and free.
19-37
A strong Poland is a blessing to the nations of Europe,
19-42
and they know that.
19-43
A strong Europe is a blessing to the West
19-46
and to the world.
19-52
(Applause.)
19-54
One hundred years after the entry
19-56
of American forces into World War I, the transatlantic bond
20-00
between the United States and Europe is as strong as ever
20-05
and maybe, in many ways, even stronger.
20-09
This continent no longer confronts
20-12
the specter of communism.
20-15
But today we’re in the West, and we have to say
20-19
there are dire threats to our security
20-22
and to our way of life.
20-25
You see what’s happening out there.
20-28
They are threats.
20-30
We will confront them.
20-32
We will win.
20-33
But they are threats.
20-36
(Applause.)
20-42
Audience- Donald Trump!
20-44
Donald Trump!
20-48
Donald Trump!
21-00
The President- We are confronted by another
21-01
oppressive ideology — one that seeks to export
21-05
terrorism and extremism all around the globe.
21-09
America and Europe have suffered one terror attack
21-14
after another.
21-17
We’re going to get it to stop.
21-20
(Applause.)
21-23
During a historic gathering in Saudi Arabia,
21-26
I called on the leaders of more than 50 Muslim nations
21-29
to join together to drive out this menace
21-33
which threatens all of humanity.
21-36
We must stand united against these shared enemies
21-39
to strip them of their territory and their funding,
21-43
and their networks, and any form of ideological support
21-50
that they may have.
21-52
While we will always welcome new citizens
21-54
who share our values and love our people, our borders
21-58
will always be closed to terrorism and extremism
22-02
of any kind.
22-05
(Applause.)
22-08
Audience- Donald Trump!
22-11
Donald Trump!
22-15
Donald Trump!
22-25
The President- We are fighting hard against
22-29
radical Islamic terrorism, and we will prevail.
22-38
We cannot accept those who reject our values
22-41
and who use hatred to justify violence against the innocent.
22-46
Today, the West is also confronted by the powers
22-49
that seek to test our will, undermine our
22-52
confidence, and challenge our interests.
22-56
To meet new forms of aggression, including
22-59
propaganda, financial crimes, and cyberwarfare,
23-04
we must adapt our alliance to compete effectively
23-08
in new ways and on all new battlefields.
23-13
We urge Russia to cease its destabilizing activities
23-17
in Ukraine and elsewhere, and its support
23-21
for hostile regimes — including Syria and Iran
23-26
— and to instead join the community of responsible
23-29
nations in our fight against common enemies
23-33
and in defense of civilization itself.
23-41
(Applause.)
23-43
Finally, on both sides of the Atlantic,
23-45
our citizens are confronted by yet another
23-47
danger — one firmly within our control.
23-51
This danger is invisible to some but familiar to
23-55
the Poles- the steady creep of government
23-58
bureaucracy that drains the vitality and wealth
24-02
of the people.
24-04
The West became great not because of paperwork and
24-07
regulations but because people were allowed to chase
24-11
their dreams and pursue their destinies.
24-16
Americans, Poles, and the nations of Europe value
24-20
individual freedom and sovereignty.
24-23
We must work together to confront forces, whether
24-26
they come from inside or out, from the South or the East,
24-30
that threaten over time to undermine these values
24-34
and to erase the bonds of culture,
24-37
faith and tradition that make us who we are.
24-44
(Applause.)
24-47
If left unchecked, these forces will undermine our courage,
24-51
sap our spirit,
24-53
and weaken our will to defend ourselves
24-55
and our societies.
24-58
But just as our adversaries and enemies
25-00
of the past learned here in Poland, we know that these
25-05
forces, too, are doomed to fail if we want them to fail.
25-11
And we do, indeed, want them to fail.
25-16
(Applause.)
25-20
They are doomed not only because our alliance is strong,
25-23
our countries are resilient,
25-25
and our power is unmatched.
25-27
Through all of that, you have to say everything is true.
25-33
Our adversaries, however, are doomed because we will
25-38
never forget who we are.
25-40
And if we don’t forget who are, we just can’t be beaten.
25-45
Americans will never forget.
25-48
The nations of Europe will never forget.
25-51
We are the fastest and the greatest community.
25-55
There is nothing like our community of nations.
25-59
The world has never known anything like
26-03
our community of nations.
26-05
We write symphonies.
26-06
We pursue innovation.
26-09
We celebrate our ancient heroes, embrace our timeless
26-12
traditions and customs, and always seek
26-15
to explore and discover brand-new frontiers.
26-20
We reward brilliance.
26-22
We strive for excellence, and cherish inspiring
26-27
works of art that honor God.
26-30
We treasure the rule of law and protect the right
26-35
to free speech and free expression.
26-39
(Applause.)
26-42
We empower women as pillars of our society and of our success.
26-48
We put faith and family, not government and bureaucracy,
26-52
at the center of our lives.
26-54
And we debate everything.
26-56
We challenge everything.
26-57
We seek to know everything so that we can better
27-00
know ourselves.
27-04
(Applause.)
27-05
And above all, we value the dignity of every human life,
27-09
protect the rights
27-10
of every person, and share the hope of every soul
27-15
to live in freedom.
27-17
That is who we are.
27-19
Those are the priceless ties that bind us together
27-23
as nations, as allies, and as a civilization.
27-28
What we have, what we inherited from our —
27-33
and you know this better than anybody, and you see it
27-35
today with this incredible group of people —
27-39
what we’ve inherited from our ancestors has never
27-43
existed to this extent before.
27-46
And if we fail to preserve it, it will never,
27-51
ever exist again.
27-53
So, we cannot fail.
27-55
This great community of nations has something else
27-58
in common- In every one of them, it is the people,
28-02
not the powerful, who have always formed
28-05
the foundation of freedom and the cornerstone of our defense.
28-10
The people have been that foundation here in Poland —
28-14
as they were right here in Warsaw — and they were
28-17
the foundation from the very, very beginning in America.
28-24
Our citizens did not win freedom together,
28-28
did not survive horrors together, did not face down
28-32
evil together, only to lose our freedom to a lack of pride
28-37
and confidence in our values.
28-39
We did not and we will not.
28-42
We will never back down.
28-46
(Applause.)
29-04
Audience- Donald Trump!
29-05
Donald Trump!
29-06
Donald Trump!
29-07
The President- As long as we know our history,
29-08
we will know how to build our future.
29-11
Americans know that a strong alliance of free,
29-14
sovereign and independent nations is the best defense
29-18
for our freedoms and for our interests.
29-22
That is why my administration has
29-24
demanded that all members of NATO finally meet
29-30
their full and fair financial obligation.
29-37
As a result of this insistence, billions of dollars
29-42
more have begun to pour into NATO.
29-46
In fact, people are shocked.
29-49
But billions and billions of dollars more are coming
29-52
in from countries that, in my opinion, would not have
29-56
been paying so quickly.
29-58
To those who would criticize our tough
30-00
stance, I would point out that the United States
30-03
has demonstrated not merely with words but with its actions
30-08
that we stand firmly behind Article 5,
30-12
the mutual defense commitment.
30-16
(Applause.)
30-18
Words are easy, but actions are what matters.
30-21
And for its own protection — and you know this,
30-25
everybody knows this, everybody has to know this —
30-29
Europe must do more.
30-32
Europe must demonstrate that it believes in its
30-35
future by investing its money to secure that future.
30-40
That is why we applaud Poland for its decision
30-43
to move forward this week on acquiring from the United States
30-47
the battle-tested Patriot air and missile
30-50
defense system — the best anywhere in the world.
30-58
(Applause.)
31-00
That is also why we salute the Polish people
31-01
for being one of the NATO countries that
31-03
has actually achieved the benchmark for investment
31-07
in our common defense.
31-09
Thank you.
31-10
Thank you, Poland.
31-12
I must tell you, the example you set
31-15
is truly magnificent, and we applaud Poland.
31-19
Thank you.
31-22
(Applause.)
31-24
We have to remember that our defense is not just a commitment
31-28
of money, it is a commitment of will.
31-31
Because as the Polish experience reminds us,
31-35
the defense of the West ultimately rests not only
31-39
on means but also on the will of its people to prevail
31-42
and be successful and get what you have to have.
31-46
The fundamental question of our time is whether
31-50
the West has the will to survive.
31-53
Do we have the confidence in our values to defend
31-56
them at any cost?
31-58
Do we have enough respect for our citizens
32-00
to protect our borders?
32-03
Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve
32-06
our civilization in the face of those who would
32-10
subvert and destroy it?
32-14
(Applause.)
32-15
We can have the largest economies
32-20
and the most lethal weapons anywhere on Earth,
32-23
but if we do not have strong families and strong
32-26
values, then we will be weak and we will not survive.
32-35
(Applause.)
32-36
If anyone forgets the critical importance of these things,
32-41
let them come to one country that never has.
32-44
Let them come to Poland.
32-47
(Applause.)
32-51
And let them come here, to Warsaw,
32-54
and learn the story of the Warsaw Uprising.
32-58
When they do, they should learn about Jerusalem Avenue.
33-03
In August of 1944, Jerusalem Avenue
33-07
was one of the main roads running east and west
33-10
through this city, just as it is today.
33-14
Control of that road was crucially important
33-17
to both sides in the battle for Warsaw.
33-21
The German military wanted it as their most direct route
33-24
to move troops and to form a very strong front.
33-30
And for the Polish Home Army, the ability to pass
33-33
north and south across that street was critical
33-36
to keep the center of the city, and the Uprising itself,
33-41
from being split apart and destroyed.
33-45
Every night, the Poles put up sandbags amid machine
33-49
gun fire — and it was horrendous fire —
33-55
to protect a narrow passage across Jerusalem Avenue.
34-00
Every day, the enemy forces knocked them down
34-03
again and again and again.
34-05
Then the Poles dug a trench.
34-07
Finally, they built a barricade.
34-10
And the brave Polish fighters began to flow
34-12
across Jerusalem Avenue.
34-15
That narrow passageway, just a few feet wide,
34-19
was the fragile link that kept the Uprising alive.
34-24
Between its walls, a constant stream
34-26
of citizens and freedom fighters made their perilous,
34-30
just perilous, sprints.
34-33
They ran across that street, they ran through
34-36
that street, they ran under that street —
34-39
all to defend this city.
34-42
“The far side was several yards away,”
34-46
recalled one young Polish woman named Greta.
34-49
That mortality and that life was so important to her.
34-57
In fact, she said, “The mortally dangerous sector
35-02
of the street was soaked in the blood.
35-05
It was the blood of messengers, liaison girls,
35-09
and couriers.”
35-11
Nazi snipers shot at anybody who crossed.
35-15
Anybody who crossed, they were being shot at.
35-18
Their soldiers burned every building
35-20
on the street, and they used the Poles as human shields
35-24
for their tanks in their effort to capture
35-27
Jerusalem Avenue.
35-29
The enemy never ceased its relentless assault
35-32
on that small outpost of civilization.
35-36
And the Poles never ceased its defense.
35-40
The Jerusalem Avenue passage required constant protection,
35-45
repair, and reinforcement, but the will of its defenders
35-49
did not waver, even in the face of death.
35-53
And to the last days of the Uprising,
35-56
the fragile crossing never, ever failed.
36-00
It was never, ever forgotten.
36-03
It was kept open by the Polish people.
36-07
The memories of those who perished in the Warsaw Uprising
36-11
cry out across the decades, and few are clearer
36-16
than the memories of those who died
36-18
to build and defend the Jerusalem Avenue crossing.
36-22
Those heroes remind us that the West
36-25
was saved with the blood of patriots;
36-29
that each generation must rise up and play their part
36-33
in its defense —
36-42
(Applause.)
36-44
— and that every foot of ground, and every last inch
36-46
of civilization, is worth defending with your life.
36-50
Our own fight for the West does not begin
36-53
on the battlefield — it begins with our minds, our wills,
36-56
and our souls.
36-57
Today, the ties that unite our civilization
37-00
are no less vital, and demand no less defense, than that bare
37-06
shred of land on which the hope of Poland
37-10
once totally rested.
37-13
Our freedom, our civilization,
37-16
and our survival depend on these bonds of history, culture,
37-21
and memory.
37-22
And today as ever, Poland is in our heart,
37-26
and its people are in that fight.
37-32
(Applause.)
37-35
Just as Poland could not be broken, I declare today
37-39
for the world to hear
37-40
that the West will never, ever be broken.
37-45
Our values will prevail.
37-47
Our people will thrive.
37-50
And our civilization will triumph.
37-55
(Applause.)
38-01
Audience- Donald Trump!
38-03
Donald Trump!
38-05
Donald Trump!
38-18
The President- Thank you.
38-19
So, together, let us all fight like the Poles —
38-22
for family, for freedom, for country, and for God.
38-27
Thank you.
38-27
God Bless You.
38-28
God bless the Polish people.
38-30
God bless our allies.
38-33
And God bless the United States of America.
38-36
Thank you.
38-36
God bless you.
38-37
Thank you very much.
38-39
(Applause.)
