President Trump speaks to National Guard Servicemembers at Michigan’s Selfridge National Guard Base.
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00:00J. Trump.
01:00Well, I guess they think we're going to save this place.
01:21And you know what?
01:23They're right.
01:24100% right.
01:25We're going to save it and make it better, actually.
01:28So, at ease, everybody.
01:29At ease, enjoy yourself.
01:31Sit down if you can.
01:32If those are cheers, yeah, they are, in a sense.
01:36Thank you very much.
01:37It's an honor to be back in the great state of Michigan.
01:42And as you know, we had big victory in Michigan.
01:45And I won't forget it, and I'm not forgetting it.
01:49And I'm honored to be here at Selfridge Air National Guard Base with the men and women of the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard.
02:02Thank you very much for being here.
02:04This is great.
02:04It's a great honor.
02:05And a great honor from me.
02:07We've had such success in Michigan.
02:09I want to thank the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who's doing a really great job.
02:16The Hooties will tell you that.
02:18He's doing a very good job.
02:20Major General Paul Rogers and Brigadier General Daniel Kramer of the Michigan National Guard.
02:27Commander of the 127th Wing, Brigadier General Matthew Bronchato.
02:34Thank you very much.
02:35Deputy Commander Colonel David Spihar, whoever you may be, David.
02:42Where's David?
02:43Huh?
02:44Hello.
02:45Hi, hello, David.
02:46Where?
02:47Where the hell are you, David?
02:50Oh, hello, David.
02:51Thank you very much.
02:53He's like the quiet type, right?
02:56But a killer, I hear.
02:59Command Chief Master Sergeant Bruce Hedrick.
03:02Bruce?
03:03Hello, Bruce.
03:05Thank you very much, Bruce.
03:07Thank you, Bruce.
03:08Great job.
03:10For decades, they've been trying to save this facility.
03:16I didn't realize that.
03:17I thought it was just recently because I heard about it recently from some people, including
03:21your governor, who has done a very good job.
03:25She came to see me.
03:26That's the reason she came to see me, by the way, to save Selfridge.
03:29And she was very effective, along with some of the other politicians and some of the military
03:38people.
03:38They love this place.
03:39They love what it stands for, all the victories they've had here over the years.
03:44So I want to thank Governor Gretchen Whitmer for bringing it also to our attention very strongly.
03:49And, you know, I'm not supposed to do that.
04:01She's a Democrat.
04:02They say, don't do that.
04:03Don't have her here.
04:04I said, no, she's going to be here.
04:05She's done a very good job, frankly.
04:08And she's, she was very much involved with, with the Republicans.
04:12They worked together on saving it.
04:13And it was not easy.
04:15So I want to thank you very much, Gretchen.
04:17Good job.
04:19Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall worked with Gretchen and everybody else.
04:23Thank you, Matt.
04:24Great job.
04:25You're doing too.
04:26John James, as you know, is right now working on the great, big, beautiful deal.
04:33I said, do me a favor, John, just stay back there and let's get your vote.
04:36Let's not worry about this today.
04:39But John was fantastic, as were all of the other representatives that you have that are right
04:45now in Congress working very, very, very hard, actually.
04:50And Michigan Senate Republican Leader Eric Nesbitt.
04:53Thank you very much, Eric.
04:54Thank you very much.
04:55Great job.
04:56Done a great job.
04:58But I want to thank all of the people that I just mentioned.
05:02But in particular, the, you know, when I look at the House members, they have been calling
05:08me all the time, we've got to get it done.
05:11And they worked along with Gretchen and some others.
05:15And you're going to be very happy with what I have to say right now.
05:19I also want to thank Michigan's tremendous Republican delegation.
05:23The whole delegation, the whole state, because they're back in Washington and they're helping
05:31our congressmen and they're helping us get the votes that we need.
05:34Because I think if we get it, we have the biggest tax cut in history.
05:40And if we don't get it, you have the biggest tax increase.
05:42And for that, I will blame the Democrats, because we probably won't get any votes from Democrats.
05:47Only, not for any reason, other than we're Republicans and the Democrats tend not to vote
05:54anytime we vote.
05:55But it's, the whole thing is so crazy.
05:58But it'll be the biggest tax increase in history if we don't get it.
06:02And that's why the Republicans can do it.
06:04But they have to stick together.
06:06And I think they are, from what I understand, really sticking together.
06:08I want to thank also Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and John Thune, Leader John Thune.
06:16They have been working together and with the senators and the Congress, men and women.
06:22And I think they've got something that's really, it's big league and it's, it's very important.
06:27Biggest, the biggest bill ever, if we get it done, and I think we will.
06:32For decades, Selfridge Air National Guard Base has stood as a crucial pillar of North American
06:37air defense, just 20 miles north of Detroit, where you're going to have a lot of car factories
06:43opening very soon, by the way, I might add.
06:46With access to the largest military airspace complex east of the Mississippi, Selfridge
06:51is tightly integrated with the National All-Domain Warfighting Center.
06:57This airfield saw its first military takeoff all the way back in 1917.
07:03Can you believe that?
07:04Wow.
07:05Wouldn't that have been a shame to close this great history for something else that wouldn't
07:10be as good?
07:11The Tuskegee Airmen trained here during World War II, and generations of Michigan Patriots
07:17have served here with great distinction.
07:20Unfortunately, that proud legacy was put at risk by the retirement of the key aircraft
07:25based here, in particular, the A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog, which I hear is an incredible plane.
07:33I hear is an incredible plane.
07:36It's too bad.
07:37It's a long time it's been up there.
07:38I said, why don't we save it?
07:41I actually said that last time, and we did save it.
07:44I saved that in my last term, and we did save it.
07:46But now it's coming — it's coming to an end.
07:49But I hear the Warthog is incredible.
07:52We have support aircraft and also the KC-135 strata tankers.
08:01In recent years, many in Michigan have feared for the future of the base.
08:06They've been calling everybody.
08:08But the only one that mattered was Trump.
08:10They called Trump, and we got it done, which represents $850 million in economic impact across
08:18the state of Michigan.
08:21And probably it could be much more than that as we expand it out.
08:26And creates thousands and thousands of good and important jobs, both in the military
08:30and civilian jobs.
08:32So, Gretchen, that's a big economic — you're not going to have too many economic development
08:38jobs like that.
08:39It's great.
08:40But today, I've come in person to lay to rest any doubts about Selfridge's future
08:46and the vital role it'll play in our national defense.
08:50As Commander-in-Chief, I'm proud to announce that very soon we will replace the retiring A-10
08:57boardhogs with 21 brand-new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets, the best in the world, fresh
09:04off the line.
09:07Brand new.
09:22And they have an expression, you know what that means, fresh off the line.
09:32That means they are brand new.
09:34They've never been anywhere.
09:35This is where they're going to be for a long time.
09:38And I saw one of them, it flew over my head, and I said, what the hell is that?
09:43That plane has serious power.
09:45So this is the best there is anywhere in the world, the F-15EX Eagle II.
09:51This will keep Selfridge at the cutting edge of Northern American air power.
09:58My administration will also continue with plans to replace the outgoing KC-135s and KC-46
10:06Pegasus aircraft to continue that important refueling mission.
10:10And they'll be restocked with brand new top-of-the-line refuelers.
10:15For generations, the men and women of Selfridge have always been here.
10:19And they've always been for us.
10:21Whether you're Republican or you're Democrat, they've always been for us.
10:24They've been for America.
10:26And under the Trump administration, we're going to be there for you.
10:30The previous administration was willing to surrender Air National Guard fighter units
10:34across the country by retiring aircraft that were not being replaced.
10:39We are replacing.
10:41But under the Trump administration, we're correcting that injustice.
10:44And that starts right here in Michigan, where we have a big commitment to Michigan and to
10:49the state, even beyond this.
10:51This is an exciting time for the United States military.
10:55Since November, enlistment numbers for every branch of the armed forces have surged.
11:01Recruitment is now the highest it's been in 39 years.
11:04Now, if you remember that you better hold on to those jobs or somebody will take them.
11:11Somebody will take those jobs so fast.
11:13Hold on to those jobs.
11:14Don't leave that job.
11:15Who would have thought?
11:17Because prior to November 5th, which is Election Day, I was hearing that recruitment was so bad.
11:23It was so impossible.
11:24It was hard to get people.
11:26And this goes not only for the armed forces, for the police, for firemen.
11:31People are proud of our country again.
11:33Big difference.
11:34But we had the worst numbers that we've ever had, virtually.
11:38We couldn't get anybody.
11:39And now we're overstocked.
11:41We have waiting lists of people wanting to sign up and be with the military.
11:45They're proud of our country again.
11:47And I'll be supporting a record-setting $1 trillion investment in our national defense.
11:52We're going to go $1 trillion, the largest in the world, largest ever in our country.
11:58But no other country has invested that much.
12:00We have a $1 trillion budget for military this year.
12:05And we have tremendous plans, including increasing the scope of Selfridge.
12:11And I recently signed an order to begin construction of the Golden Dome Missile Defense Shield to protect our homeland from missile attack.
12:18We're going to call it the Golden Dome.
12:20We had the Iron Dome.
12:22But somehow, Gretchen, Golden Dome sounds better to me.
12:25I don't know.
12:26Maybe it's not.
12:27What do you like better?
12:28Golden Dome or Iron Dome?
12:30What do you like better?
12:31Golden?
12:32Let's have a vote.
12:33Golden Dome.
12:34Oh, no.
12:35I think we're in trouble.
12:37How about the Iron Dome?
12:43Good.
12:44Keep it.
12:45Good.
12:46Because we made all the changes already.
12:47It'll be a little bit tough.
12:49Even the renderings look very golden, but beautiful.
12:52No, it's going to be incredible.
12:53The latest and the greatest.
12:54A lot of it is going to be made in Michigan.
12:56A lot of it is going to be made.
12:57The Golden Dome.
12:58You know, other countries have it.
13:00In particular, Israel has it.
13:02And we have a much more advanced than theirs.
13:05It's very good.
13:06We helped do it.
13:07We did it.
13:08But we have an advanced version now that really is incredible what it does.
13:13It — we had a case study of 169.
13:18Out of 169, every one of them just shut down.
13:22And I think we're entitled to it, don't you?
13:25I think we're entitled to it as a country.
13:27America's military will soon be stronger and more powerful than ever before.
13:31And Selfridge Air National Guard Base will remain at the center of the action.
13:36And I just want to say we're building some of the greatest submarines and various other
13:42ships, but submarines in particular.
13:45We have a monopoly on great submarines.
13:47We're building the greatest in the world.
13:49Most powerful machine ever built.
13:51And we're doing some things that are just incredible.
13:55In one way, you hate to do it, but in another way, you really have no choice.
13:59And we're fighting very hard on the China front and the Russia front with Ukraine
14:04and what's happening in the Middle East and a lot of good things.
14:07You're going to be hearing a lot of good things.
14:09It's a shame when I left office not so long ago.
14:14We had no wars.
14:15We defeated ISIS in three weeks.
14:17It was supposed to take five years, they told me.
14:20Sir, it's going to take about five years.
14:22We did it in three weeks.
14:23Raisin Cain, he's now your top.
14:26You know, he's your top person.
14:29He's the head of the Joint Chiefs.
14:31And I did that because he was the one.
14:34He said, sir, we can do it in three weeks.
14:36I said, three weeks?
14:37They told me five years.
14:38No, sir.
14:39We can do it in three weeks, sir.
14:42And I said, let's see if you can do it.
14:44And he did it.
14:45He had a little time left over, actually.
14:47And ISIS was gone, totally defeated.
14:50And he's the man we wanted.
14:52That's the man I said, if I do this again, I'm going
14:54to put that guy in charge because he did things
14:56that nobody else was able to do and nobody else
14:59even thought or even suggested.
15:01So I'm very proud to have him head up the whole military
15:06operation along with Pete and some other great people.
15:10So I just want to say that Michigan, it's been my great honor
15:14to be here.
15:15I've had tremendous success in Michigan.
15:17Not all Republicans have, but I have.
15:20And not just this time, either.
15:22We had tremendous — we did tremendously well in 2020,
15:26and we did incredibly well in 2016.
15:29In 2016, they said, it couldn't be won.
15:32You know, it couldn't be won, but we won.
15:33And we won by a lot.
15:35So it's a special place.
15:36And I don't forget — I don't forget my friends,
15:38and Michigan has been my friend.
15:40And I want to just thank everybody here.
15:42I want to congratulate you, actually, because there are a lot
15:44of people who wanted this to happen to their neck of the woods.
15:49But it's happening for you.
15:50So congratulations.
15:52And God bless you all.
15:53God bless our military.
15:54And God bless America.
15:55Thank you very much.
15:56Congratulations, everybody.
15:57Congratulations.
16:15Only because the Commander-in-Chief invited me —
16:25Mr. President, thank you for restoring the warrior ethos
16:29inside our formations, for rebuilding our military,
16:32reestablishing deterrence around the world,
16:34and making Americans proud to wear the uniform.
16:37That recruiting surge we're seeing right now
16:39is because they know they have a Commander-in-Chief
16:42that has their back.
16:43That's my message to these men and women every single place we go.
16:46All I ever wanted when I was in combat
16:49was to know that my Commander had my back, no matter what.
16:52And with Donald J. Trump, that Commander has your back.
16:56And that means something to the men and women of America,
16:59and that's why we're seeing a record surge in recruiting.
17:01That's why we're locking down our southern border.
17:03That's why our enemies know we mean business,
17:05because we have a Commander-in-Chief that has our back,
17:09and he has the back of this base as well.
17:11God bless you all. Thank you.
17:12Well, I hadn't planned to speak, but on behalf of all the military men
17:30and women who serve our country and serve so honorably
17:34on behalf of the State of Michigan,
17:36I am really damn happy we're here to celebrate
17:39this recapitalization at Selfridge.
17:41It's crucial for the Michigan economy.
17:43It's crucial for the men and women here,
17:45for our homeland security and our future.
17:47So, thank you.
17:48I'm so, so grateful that this announcement was made today,
17:52and I appreciate all the work.
17:54Well, thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.
18:06It's because of your leadership this is happening.
18:09No one else could save Selfridge.
18:11We've tried for decades.
18:13It took you, Mr. President.
18:15This is why the people of Michigan elected you, sir.
18:18You are not forgetting us.
18:20This is the first time in decades where we can all say Selfridge is winning.
18:25We are winning because of you, President Trump.
18:28And I know all of these troops here will not let you down with this new fighter mission,
18:32which will keep Selfridge Air National Guard base thriving for the next 30 to 40 years.
18:37Thank you, Mr. President, for remembering us and keeping your commitment
18:41when we saw you in Washington a few weeks ago.
18:43Thank you, sir.
18:44Well, Mr. President, thank you for coming to Macomb County.
18:58Thank you for coming to Michigan.
19:00And thank you for providing another important service of the F-15X.
19:06This means that these folks are going to be continuing on the mission for America for the coming decades.
19:12Because of your leadership, America's back again.
19:16Macomb's back again.
19:18Michigan's back again.
19:19And Selfridge will be leading the way.
19:21Thank you, Mr. President, for showing that leadership.