WEBVTT 00:00.550 --> 00:01.660 - [Announcer] Ladies and gentleman, 00:01.660 --> 00:04.426 the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. 00:04.426 --> 00:07.593 (audience applauding) 00:12.523 --> 00:14.273 - Good morning again. 00:15.197 --> 00:16.280 Good morning. 00:18.570 --> 00:19.403 Please. 00:20.920 --> 00:24.200 It's a real honor to introduce Vice President Mike Pence 00:24.200 --> 00:25.810 to you all this morning. 00:25.810 --> 00:28.630 A lot of you have had a chance to meet him already 00:28.630 --> 00:30.240 as he has traveled. 00:30.240 --> 00:33.010 He's made over 10 international trips in the first two years 00:33.010 --> 00:34.460 of his time as the vice president 00:34.460 --> 00:36.480 of the United States of America, 00:36.480 --> 00:38.810 from South to Central America, to the Indo-Pacific, 00:38.810 --> 00:40.780 Eastern Europe and the Middle East. 00:40.780 --> 00:42.640 I've been with him on more than one of them 00:42.640 --> 00:46.070 and I see up close how personally he is engaged 00:46.070 --> 00:48.150 in these important issues and the respect 00:48.150 --> 00:50.927 that he has for each of you as well. 00:50.927 --> 00:54.330 He is certainly at the forefront of the administration's 00:54.330 --> 00:55.850 international engagement. 00:55.850 --> 00:58.380 He has been a valuable partner of mine 00:58.380 --> 01:00.370 as the Secretary of State. 01:00.370 --> 01:02.340 I know when I talk to Vice President Pence 01:02.340 --> 01:04.910 that he is speaking on behalf of the president 01:04.910 --> 01:08.870 of the United States, and when he speaks, the world listens. 01:08.870 --> 01:11.310 I traveled to China after his speech and got to hear 01:11.310 --> 01:14.026 how much they had listened to his remarks. 01:14.026 --> 01:16.480 (audience laughing) 01:16.480 --> 01:19.623 And today, we are honored to have him with us 01:19.623 --> 01:21.809 to give us his view from the White House, 01:21.809 --> 01:25.511 and thanks in large part to all of you, 01:25.511 --> 01:28.020 I'm sure he will tell you that America is back. 01:28.020 --> 01:29.290 Ladies and gentleman, please welcome 01:29.290 --> 01:32.186 the vice president of the United States, Mike Pence. 01:32.186 --> 01:33.181 (audience applauding) 01:33.181 --> 01:37.098 (patriotic instrumental music) 01:59.319 --> 02:00.650 - Thank you all. 02:03.726 --> 02:06.380 And thank you to Secretary Pompeo for those 02:06.380 --> 02:07.963 overly generous words. 02:09.020 --> 02:13.170 Mr. Secretary, as one of your predecessors, 02:13.170 --> 02:14.670 Henry Kissinger once said, 02:14.670 --> 02:16.680 after that overly generous introduction, 02:16.680 --> 02:19.216 now even I'm interested in what I have to say. 02:19.216 --> 02:21.290 (audience laughing) 02:21.290 --> 02:25.040 And mentioning my friend, 02:25.040 --> 02:28.990 let me just take a moment, give you all a chance 02:28.990 --> 02:31.890 to show your appreciation for a man who's fought for America 02:31.890 --> 02:32.930 all of his life. 02:32.930 --> 02:35.110 He's served in uniform, he's served in the Congress 02:35.110 --> 02:36.890 where we first met. 02:36.890 --> 02:38.860 He led the Central Intelligence Agency 02:38.860 --> 02:41.780 and now I can assure you he is making this president 02:41.780 --> 02:44.170 and all of America proud as the 70th 02:44.170 --> 02:47.120 United States Secretary of State. 02:47.120 --> 02:49.360 Would you join me in thanking Secretary of State 02:49.360 --> 02:53.890 Mike Pompeo for his great leadership of this department 02:55.213 --> 02:56.417 and in this country. 02:56.417 --> 02:59.584 (audience applauding) 03:10.220 --> 03:13.320 To more than 180 ambassadors and chiefs of mission 03:13.320 --> 03:16.650 here today as well as the under and assistant secretaries 03:16.650 --> 03:19.540 in attendance, it really is an honor to join you 03:19.540 --> 03:23.063 for the ninth annual Global Chiefs of Missions Conference. 03:23.063 --> 03:28.063 Welcome back to Washington, D.C., and welcome home. 03:29.690 --> 03:31.090 It's great to have you back. 03:31.940 --> 03:35.180 You know, because all of us are in fact one team 03:35.180 --> 03:38.320 with one mission and one future, 03:38.320 --> 03:41.070 let me begin today by bringing greetings 03:41.070 --> 03:46.000 from our one team captain, someone who admires the service 03:46.000 --> 03:48.940 that each one of you provide to the United States of America 03:48.940 --> 03:50.370 every single day. 03:50.370 --> 03:53.010 I bring greetings from the 45th president 03:53.010 --> 03:56.700 of the United States of America, President Donald Trump. 03:56.700 --> 03:59.867 (audience applauding) 04:04.880 --> 04:06.960 You know I look around this room and I see 04:06.960 --> 04:08.970 so many noteworthy Americans. 04:08.970 --> 04:11.630 In fact, some of the most talented and experienced 04:11.630 --> 04:14.770 professionals who work every day for our country. 04:14.770 --> 04:18.820 You are our front line emissaries and I just want you 04:18.820 --> 04:21.830 to know that this president, this vice president, 04:21.830 --> 04:25.510 and our entire administration take the job that you do, 04:25.510 --> 04:28.860 the commitment that you live out as seriously 04:28.860 --> 04:31.955 as each and every one of you do, and we are grateful. 04:31.955 --> 04:34.090 We truly are. 04:34.090 --> 04:37.257 (audience applauding) 04:38.320 --> 04:40.490 And as all of you know, you're representing our country 04:40.490 --> 04:43.410 around the world at a momentous time in our history. 04:43.410 --> 04:45.020 With the help of Secretary Pompeo, 04:45.020 --> 04:47.499 President Trump has made some big changes 04:47.499 --> 04:49.940 in our nation's foreign policy, 04:49.940 --> 04:52.000 and they were a long time coming, 04:52.000 --> 04:53.210 and they haven't been welcomed 04:53.210 --> 04:56.320 in all quarters around the world. 04:56.320 --> 04:58.837 So I'm here today to say thank you 04:58.837 --> 05:01.940 to each and every one of you for taking up the hard work 05:01.940 --> 05:06.560 of defending the interests of some 320 million Americans. 05:06.560 --> 05:09.050 The president's foreign policy, as you all know, 05:09.050 --> 05:11.610 put simply, is America first. 05:11.610 --> 05:14.170 No longer will the United States government 05:14.170 --> 05:17.120 pursue grandiose, unrealistic notions 05:17.120 --> 05:19.610 at the expense of the American people. 05:19.610 --> 05:24.610 Instead, President Trump is putting our nation's security 05:24.630 --> 05:28.216 and prosperity first, and he always will. 05:28.216 --> 05:31.383 (audience applauding) 05:33.510 --> 05:35.230 That's the vision the president laid out 05:35.230 --> 05:37.030 in our National Security Strategy 05:37.030 --> 05:38.800 a little more than a year ago. 05:38.800 --> 05:41.040 It's a strategy as you know, based upon four 05:41.040 --> 05:45.000 overarching principles and they bear repetition today. 05:45.000 --> 05:47.800 First, protecting the American people, 05:47.800 --> 05:50.480 the American homeland and the American way of life. 05:50.480 --> 05:52.520 And we're doing that by enhancing our defense 05:52.520 --> 05:54.640 against weapons of mass destruction, 05:54.640 --> 05:56.710 combating bio threats and pandemics 05:56.710 --> 05:59.900 and strengthening our border security. 05:59.900 --> 06:04.010 The second pillar is promoting American prosperity. 06:04.010 --> 06:06.990 And on that score we've been rejuvenating our economy. 06:06.990 --> 06:09.560 We're also promoting free, fair and reciprocal 06:09.560 --> 06:12.480 economic relationships, maintaining America's lead 06:12.480 --> 06:15.541 in research, technology, invention, innovation, 06:15.541 --> 06:19.500 and embracing American energy dominance. 06:19.500 --> 06:21.530 The third pillar of the president's strategy 06:21.530 --> 06:24.627 is advancing America's influence in the world. 06:24.627 --> 06:27.270 And we're encouraging our aspiring partners 06:27.270 --> 06:30.255 working toward better outcomes in multilateral forums. 06:30.255 --> 06:34.950 In every way we can, we are championing American values. 06:34.950 --> 06:37.490 And the fourth and final pillar of the president's 06:37.490 --> 06:40.710 National Security Strategy, as you well know, 06:40.710 --> 06:43.760 is to preserve peace through strength. 06:43.760 --> 06:46.530 And we're doing that with strong support 06:46.530 --> 06:48.020 in the Congress of the United States 06:48.020 --> 06:51.070 by renewing our military capability, 06:51.070 --> 06:54.100 strengthening our defense and industrial base, 06:54.100 --> 06:56.490 modernizing our nuclear forces, 06:56.490 --> 06:58.580 and even creating a space force, 06:58.580 --> 07:01.450 as we strengthen cyber space offensive 07:01.450 --> 07:03.740 and defensive capabilities. 07:03.740 --> 07:07.290 We are going to make the strongest military 07:07.290 --> 07:10.721 in the history of the world stronger still. 07:10.721 --> 07:13.888 (audience applauding) 07:17.430 --> 07:20.650 It is an ambitious strategy, but as you all know, 07:20.650 --> 07:24.080 America first does not mean America alone, 07:24.080 --> 07:25.536 and over the past two years 07:25.536 --> 07:27.380 under President Trump's leadership, 07:27.380 --> 07:30.380 we forge new and renewed bonds with allies and partners 07:30.380 --> 07:33.540 in Europe, in Asia, and across the world. 07:33.540 --> 07:36.570 We've also been building on our own country's strengths 07:36.570 --> 07:39.160 and encouraging other countries to do the same. 07:39.160 --> 07:42.335 We recognize that a strong and prosperous America 07:42.335 --> 07:45.340 will help secure a world of independent 07:45.340 --> 07:48.250 and sovereign nation state, each free to develop 07:48.250 --> 07:50.704 their own culture, pursue their own dreams 07:50.704 --> 07:55.704 with all of us living side by side in peace and security. 07:55.800 --> 07:58.300 And there's no doubt this president's foreign policy 07:58.300 --> 08:02.730 is different from what the world has come to expect, 08:02.730 --> 08:05.810 but then the world itself has changed dramatically 08:05.810 --> 08:08.210 since the fall of the Soviet Union. 08:08.210 --> 08:10.670 Today, we're not up against one superpower, 08:10.670 --> 08:14.220 but several great powers competing with us 08:14.220 --> 08:15.963 for preeminence across the world. 08:16.890 --> 08:19.650 China, as we've observed, is using debt diplomacy 08:19.650 --> 08:23.750 and unfair trade practices to expand its influence. 08:23.750 --> 08:26.200 And as I've made clear on that visit to the region 08:26.200 --> 08:29.960 just a few short weeks ago, the United States 08:29.960 --> 08:34.960 will always stand for a free and open Indo-Pacific 08:35.140 --> 08:38.582 where all countries can enjoy freedom of navigation 08:38.582 --> 08:40.736 and open trade. 08:40.736 --> 08:43.903 (audience applauding) 08:47.425 --> 08:50.730 The truth is, too often in recent years China has chosen 08:50.730 --> 08:54.210 a path that disregards the laws and norms that have kept 08:54.210 --> 08:58.010 the world safe and prosperous for more than half a century. 08:58.010 --> 09:00.442 And the days of the United States looking the other way 09:00.442 --> 09:02.260 are over. 09:02.260 --> 09:05.150 And then beyond our global competitors, 09:05.150 --> 09:09.590 the United States faces a wolf pack of rogue states. 09:09.590 --> 09:12.890 First, there's the world's biggest state sponsor of terror, 09:12.890 --> 09:15.410 which is grappling for dominance in the Middle East 09:15.410 --> 09:19.080 by spreading mayhem in any country that opposes it. 09:19.080 --> 09:22.570 Of course, I speak about the Islamic Republic of Iran. 09:22.570 --> 09:24.455 Then there's the specter of dictatorship, 09:24.455 --> 09:28.696 which haunts the people of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, 09:28.696 --> 09:32.010 defying world opinion and Latin America's broad embrace 09:32.010 --> 09:35.700 of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. 09:35.700 --> 09:39.130 And while the president has started a promising dialogue 09:39.130 --> 09:42.670 with Chairman Kim, we still await 09:42.670 --> 09:44.730 concrete steps by North Korea 09:44.730 --> 09:47.530 to dismantle the nuclear weapons that threaten 09:47.530 --> 09:49.713 our people and our allies in the region. 09:50.600 --> 09:53.270 Unlike the Soviet Union and its many client states, 09:53.270 --> 09:58.150 no shared ideology or objective unites our competitors 09:58.150 --> 10:00.980 and adversaries, except this one. 10:00.980 --> 10:03.910 They seek to overturn the international order 10:03.910 --> 10:06.030 that the United States has upheld 10:06.030 --> 10:08.180 for more than half a century. 10:08.180 --> 10:13.180 Truthfully, it is a pact, a pact surrounding 10:13.510 --> 10:17.370 what they perceive to be a common enemy. 10:17.370 --> 10:20.250 But the truth is, the United States will rise 10:20.250 --> 10:23.620 to that challenge, we will stand with our allies 10:23.620 --> 10:26.526 and we will advance our values and our principles 10:26.526 --> 10:27.929 in the world. 10:27.929 --> 10:31.262 (audience applauding) 10:34.680 --> 10:37.590 The truth is, when the president took office, 10:37.590 --> 10:42.440 he saw a world that in too many respects was complacent. 10:42.440 --> 10:45.280 It looked the other way for too long. 10:45.280 --> 10:50.280 It had not marshaled the energy, the energy to stand strong, 10:52.360 --> 10:55.740 to stand strong together, advocating, 10:55.740 --> 10:58.324 advocating for our interests around the world 10:58.324 --> 11:00.920 and those of our allies who shared our values. 11:00.920 --> 11:04.330 It seemed as many across the western world 11:04.330 --> 11:07.160 were simply managing decline. 11:07.160 --> 11:09.260 But I think you all know, President Trump 11:09.260 --> 11:12.000 is not a big fan of losing. 11:12.000 --> 11:14.033 He knew the only way to retake the initiative 11:14.033 --> 11:16.860 was to put our own house in order, 11:16.860 --> 11:19.650 and so from the first day of this administration, 11:19.650 --> 11:22.440 we have focused on revving up this economy. 11:22.440 --> 11:24.898 We've cut taxes, we've cut red tape, 11:24.898 --> 11:27.390 we've unleashed American energy, 11:27.390 --> 11:29.330 and I'm pleased to report thanks to 11:29.330 --> 11:33.000 the president's leadership and the energetic development 11:33.000 --> 11:34.920 of businesses large and small, 11:34.920 --> 11:39.090 we've seen more than 5 million new jobs created 11:39.090 --> 11:41.440 across the United States of America. 11:41.440 --> 11:44.690 (audience applauding) 11:47.638 --> 11:49.960 And as I mentioned before, we're rebuilding our military 11:49.960 --> 11:52.510 and making the largest investment in our national defense 11:52.510 --> 11:54.600 since the days of Ronald Reagan, 11:54.600 --> 11:56.253 and under the president's leadership, 11:56.253 --> 11:59.660 the United States of America is once again standing tall 11:59.660 --> 12:04.130 and standing proud, not just at home, but around the world. 12:04.130 --> 12:05.820 We've gotten our allies to contribute more 12:05.820 --> 12:08.870 to their self defense, we're building trade relationships 12:08.870 --> 12:11.140 that are free, fair and reciprocal. 12:11.140 --> 12:13.880 We've taken decisive action to secure our border as well 12:13.880 --> 12:17.380 to stop the flow of illegal immigration, crime and drugs 12:17.380 --> 12:19.040 at our southern border. 12:19.040 --> 12:22.502 You know it would be helpful for all of you to recount 12:22.502 --> 12:25.190 when you return to your duties what the president 12:25.190 --> 12:29.150 noted earlier today, that as he said that there are today 12:29.150 --> 12:33.050 77 major or significant walls built around the world. 12:33.050 --> 12:36.629 In fact, over 800 miles of walls have been built in Europe 12:36.629 --> 12:40.060 since only 2015. 12:40.060 --> 12:43.121 Rest assured each of you have a role to play 12:43.121 --> 12:46.780 as we take the battle forward on Capitol Hill 12:46.780 --> 12:49.500 to secure our border. 12:49.500 --> 12:51.903 We should make it clear to our allies around the world 12:51.903 --> 12:56.040 that the United States supports legal immigration. 12:56.040 --> 12:59.713 In fact, we celebrate it, and America has a proud record 12:59.713 --> 13:02.410 of support for refugees. 13:02.410 --> 13:04.140 But as the president has often said, 13:04.140 --> 13:07.320 a country without borders is not a country. 13:07.320 --> 13:11.240 And so I urge you to assure our allies this administration 13:11.240 --> 13:15.230 will continue to stand for legal immigration. 13:15.230 --> 13:19.570 Even while we address the humanitarian and security crisis 13:19.570 --> 13:23.940 on our southern border, we will secure the border 13:23.940 --> 13:27.750 of the United States of America for the sake of our people, 13:27.750 --> 13:30.136 our security and our sovereignty. 13:30.136 --> 13:33.386 (audience applauding) 13:36.481 --> 13:41.481 The truth of the matter is, it's not under 13:42.680 --> 13:46.670 this president's leadership that we're attempting 13:46.670 --> 13:47.670 to play catch up. 13:47.670 --> 13:51.300 It's that, the truth is that we believe that together 13:51.300 --> 13:53.269 with all free nations around the world 13:53.269 --> 13:55.920 that we can do so much more. 13:55.920 --> 13:59.430 You know, the president and I have traveled widely and often 13:59.430 --> 14:01.920 with the help of all of you in this room. 14:01.920 --> 14:05.970 We've done the hard work of sustained personal diplomacy. 14:05.970 --> 14:09.020 In the last two years alone, I've had the honor to represent 14:09.020 --> 14:11.480 our country on visits to 23 different countries 14:11.480 --> 14:13.400 on six different continents. 14:13.400 --> 14:15.450 And as the president might say, 14:15.450 --> 14:17.160 the change in the relationship between 14:17.160 --> 14:20.040 the United States of America and our allies 14:20.040 --> 14:24.860 and our competitors around the world has been huge. 14:24.860 --> 14:27.160 I mean, the truth is just look at trade. 14:27.160 --> 14:28.640 Under President Trump's leadership, 14:28.640 --> 14:30.365 we've helped our farmers and ranchers sell 14:30.365 --> 14:32.760 more American rice to Columbia, 14:32.760 --> 14:35.100 more American pork to Argentina 14:35.100 --> 14:37.490 and more American grain to Vietnam. 14:37.490 --> 14:40.170 We're negotiating a first of its kind trade deal with Japan. 14:40.170 --> 14:43.470 We've strengthened our trade deal with South Korea. 14:43.470 --> 14:46.523 We signed one of the largest trade deals in American history 14:46.523 --> 14:49.430 when the president will soon take to the Congress 14:49.430 --> 14:53.070 the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement 14:53.070 --> 14:56.725 that puts American workers and American jobs first. 14:56.725 --> 14:59.975 (audience applauding) 15:02.259 --> 15:04.350 But as I mentioned before, perhaps most importantly, 15:04.350 --> 15:07.440 we've put China on notice. 15:07.440 --> 15:10.440 President Trump's direction, we've placed tariffs 15:10.440 --> 15:12.402 on $250 billion of Chinese goods, 15:12.402 --> 15:15.630 with the highest tariffs specifically targeting 15:15.630 --> 15:18.080 the advanced industries that Beijing 15:18.080 --> 15:20.560 is attempting to capture and control, 15:20.560 --> 15:24.420 the high parts of the modern economy. 15:24.420 --> 15:27.550 As the president's made clear, the United States is prepared 15:27.550 --> 15:30.370 to levy even more tariffs until China makes much needed 15:30.370 --> 15:34.990 structural changes and signs a trade deal that works, 15:34.990 --> 15:38.200 not only for their nation, but for ours. 15:38.200 --> 15:39.920 And we remain hopeful. 15:39.920 --> 15:42.500 We remain hopeful that China will come to the table. 15:42.500 --> 15:45.537 Even as negotiations take place as we speak, 15:45.537 --> 15:48.063 that China will come to the table and finally 15:48.063 --> 15:52.338 enter into a fair and reciprocal trade relationship. 15:52.338 --> 15:54.070 The truth of the matter is, 15:54.070 --> 15:57.070 we also need a better relationship with China 15:57.070 --> 16:00.970 and understand our relationship across the Indo-Pacific. 16:00.970 --> 16:04.560 We've all seen the aggressive efforts in the South China Sea 16:04.560 --> 16:07.170 by China, but the United States of America, 16:07.170 --> 16:09.430 as I said before and I say again, 16:09.430 --> 16:13.550 will continue to stand with nations across the region 16:13.550 --> 16:17.170 for a free and open Indo-Pacific and for freedom 16:17.170 --> 16:20.653 of navigation on the seven seas of the world. 16:23.227 --> 16:26.394 (audience applauding) 16:28.560 --> 16:32.400 That strong stand is resulting in dialogue and in progress 16:32.400 --> 16:35.260 not only with China, but with nations around the world. 16:35.260 --> 16:38.940 And what's more, some of our greatest challenges, 16:38.940 --> 16:42.330 some of our most heinous enemies are in retreat. 16:42.330 --> 16:44.210 We promised under this president's leadership 16:44.210 --> 16:46.330 to take the fight to radical Islamic terrorists 16:46.330 --> 16:48.907 on our terms, on their soil. 16:48.907 --> 16:51.860 The president and I couldn't be more proud. 16:51.860 --> 16:53.810 Thanks to the leadership of this commander in chief 16:53.810 --> 16:56.561 and the courage and sacrifice of our armed forces, 16:56.561 --> 17:00.010 we're now actually able to begin to hand off the fight 17:00.010 --> 17:03.180 against ISIS in Syria to our coalition partners 17:03.180 --> 17:06.050 and we are bringing our troops home. 17:06.050 --> 17:10.946 The caliphate has crumbled and ISIS has been defeated. 17:10.946 --> 17:14.113 (audience applauding) 17:16.910 --> 17:19.511 Now, we'll stay in the region and we'll stay in the fight 17:19.511 --> 17:22.830 to ensure that ISIS does not rear its ugly head again. 17:22.830 --> 17:25.830 We will protect the gains that our soldiers 17:25.830 --> 17:28.880 and our coalition partners have secured. 17:28.880 --> 17:32.640 But this president has often spoken about his desire 17:32.640 --> 17:36.020 to bring an end to endless wars in America 17:36.020 --> 17:37.650 and the ability to bring our troops home, 17:37.650 --> 17:41.370 to bring them home in an orderly and effective way 17:41.370 --> 17:44.010 out of their current deployment in Syria, 17:44.010 --> 17:46.340 remains a priority for this president. 17:46.340 --> 17:48.050 This president also promised to stand up 17:48.050 --> 17:49.770 to the Iranian regime. 17:49.770 --> 17:53.950 As we stand today, Iran is now under unprecedented pressure 17:53.950 --> 17:55.560 to change its ways. 17:55.560 --> 17:58.256 Many of you in this room have helped us spread our message 17:58.256 --> 18:00.570 and we couldn't be more grateful. 18:00.570 --> 18:02.730 The message that the disastrous nuclear deal 18:02.730 --> 18:06.753 benefited the very Mullahs who oppress their people, 18:06.753 --> 18:09.420 and even as we've striven mightily to protect 18:09.420 --> 18:13.110 our most important interest, we've also fought hard. 18:13.110 --> 18:16.120 We've also fought hard not only to stand up to those 18:16.120 --> 18:19.080 who would challenge us, but to advance American values 18:19.080 --> 18:20.684 on the world stage. 18:20.684 --> 18:23.820 You know, here in this nation, we cherish the ideals 18:23.820 --> 18:25.400 of our founders. 18:25.400 --> 18:29.920 We've long held the belief that those ideals and values 18:29.920 --> 18:31.910 that we cherish are not just our birthright, 18:31.910 --> 18:34.440 but they're the birthright of all mankind 18:34.440 --> 18:36.290 because the founders of this nation believed 18:36.290 --> 18:41.290 and enshrined that all men and women are created equal, 18:42.190 --> 18:44.720 that we're endowed by our creator with certain 18:44.720 --> 18:47.550 unalienable rights, life, liberty, 18:47.550 --> 18:49.780 and the pursuit of happiness. 18:49.780 --> 18:53.487 And as well, we've championed those values around the world 18:53.487 --> 18:55.930 and I couldn't be more proud as the president is 18:55.930 --> 18:58.230 of the efforts each one of you have done 18:58.230 --> 19:00.900 to advance freedom of speech, freedom of the press, 19:00.900 --> 19:04.290 and our first freedom, the freedom of religion. 19:04.290 --> 19:06.785 Let me assure all of you gathered here today, 19:06.785 --> 19:09.070 protecting and promoting religious freedom 19:09.070 --> 19:13.833 is a foreign policy priority of this administration. 19:13.833 --> 19:17.083 (audience applauding) 19:20.300 --> 19:22.460 With the support of all of you in this room, 19:22.460 --> 19:25.830 we've stood without apology with persecuted people 19:25.830 --> 19:28.470 of faith around the world, whether it was calling 19:28.470 --> 19:31.010 for the release and achieving the release 19:31.010 --> 19:32.490 of a Christian pastor in Turkey, 19:32.490 --> 19:35.490 or speaking out for oppressed Tibetan Buddhist 19:35.490 --> 19:39.000 and Muslim Uyghurs in China, or helping to rebuild 19:39.000 --> 19:43.180 Christian and Yazidi communities in Syria and in Iraq. 19:43.180 --> 19:46.570 America has stood for religious freedom 19:46.570 --> 19:49.530 and religious plurality around the world. 19:49.530 --> 19:51.600 It's especially noteworthy today 19:51.600 --> 19:53.840 on this National Religious Freedom Day 19:53.840 --> 19:55.450 that we speak of the great progress 19:55.450 --> 19:57.290 that our nation has made. 19:57.290 --> 19:59.127 But let me say to each one of you, 19:59.127 --> 20:03.220 our ambassadors and our emissaries around the world, 20:03.220 --> 20:07.850 let us rededicate ourselves to that first freedom. 20:07.850 --> 20:11.410 As you return to your post, you may communicate 20:11.410 --> 20:14.240 to our allies and all who would listen 20:14.240 --> 20:17.440 that this administration and this people 20:17.440 --> 20:21.623 will always be a champion of people of faith. 20:21.623 --> 20:24.873 (audience applauding) 20:28.270 --> 20:31.310 We also have stood strong for the right of people 20:31.310 --> 20:33.360 to elect their leaders freely. 20:33.360 --> 20:36.860 We've imposed tough new sanctions on Nicolas Maduro's 20:36.860 --> 20:38.730 sham of a government. 20:38.730 --> 20:41.780 Just this week, we unequivocally condemned 20:41.780 --> 20:44.390 the arrest of Juan Guido, 20:44.390 --> 20:46.050 the president of the National Assembly, 20:46.050 --> 20:49.580 after he invoked protections under Venezuela's constitution 20:49.580 --> 20:52.487 and declared Maduro's presidency illegitimate. 20:52.487 --> 20:55.998 I spoke with Juan Guido just yesterday. 20:55.998 --> 21:00.790 I told him the United States will continue to stand strong 21:00.790 --> 21:04.390 with the people of Venezuela until democracy 21:04.390 --> 21:06.461 and liberty are restored. 21:06.461 --> 21:09.711 (audience applauding) 21:13.531 --> 21:15.620 And for all the changes in administration policy, 21:15.620 --> 21:18.880 for all the changes in world affairs, 21:18.880 --> 21:22.898 the United States of America remains what we've always been 21:22.898 --> 21:27.898 to millions around the world, that shining city on a hill. 21:30.810 --> 21:33.850 As the 40th president of the United States once said 21:33.850 --> 21:35.887 about that city, and I quote, 21:35.887 --> 21:40.587 "After 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong 21:40.587 --> 21:45.358 "and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady 21:45.358 --> 21:47.347 "no matter what storm." 21:49.610 --> 21:51.450 You are those that help shine that light 21:51.450 --> 21:52.573 from the shining city. 21:53.760 --> 21:56.100 And the truth of the matter is we wouldn't be able 21:56.100 --> 21:59.950 to defend this city, we wouldn't be able to share the values 21:59.950 --> 22:03.040 and the priorities of that city on a hill 22:03.040 --> 22:04.640 without the people in this room. 22:05.580 --> 22:08.700 You know, I've traveled around the world and in my years 22:08.700 --> 22:11.610 on the Foreign Affairs Committee, I have a pretty good idea 22:11.610 --> 22:14.453 how hard of a job it is that each one of you have. 22:15.490 --> 22:18.557 We know how difficult it is to be a truth teller, 22:18.557 --> 22:20.919 to have the tough conversations 22:20.919 --> 22:23.974 with some of our closest friends, 22:23.974 --> 22:27.090 and our competitors around the world, 22:27.090 --> 22:30.760 to call out adversaries so often when other nations 22:30.760 --> 22:34.840 are unwilling or stand silent. 22:34.840 --> 22:39.840 In the last two years, you've done so much for our country 22:39.970 --> 22:43.230 and the president and I couldn't be more grateful. 22:43.230 --> 22:45.450 But before I leave today, I want to ask all of you 22:45.450 --> 22:46.323 one more favor. 22:47.290 --> 22:50.450 When you go back to your missions, I want you to deliver 22:50.450 --> 22:54.350 a message to everyone you meet, friend and foe alike. 22:54.350 --> 22:56.779 And don't just use words. 22:56.779 --> 23:01.779 Tell them by always showing up, standing your ground, 23:03.270 --> 23:05.900 carrying yourself with confidence worthy 23:05.900 --> 23:08.610 of free men and women. 23:08.610 --> 23:12.609 Tell them America is back. 23:12.609 --> 23:15.859 (audience applauding) 23:20.510 --> 23:22.430 We're back on the world stage to advance 23:22.430 --> 23:23.390 America's interests. 23:23.390 --> 23:26.780 We're back on the world stage to forge stronger ties 23:26.780 --> 23:30.120 with those nations around the world 23:30.120 --> 23:33.230 who share our ideals and our principles. 23:33.230 --> 23:34.380 And we're here to stay. 23:35.310 --> 23:39.083 Now, not everyone will be thrilled to hear this message, 23:40.020 --> 23:41.890 but you know, as I think of your situation, 23:41.890 --> 23:45.400 my mind actually goes back to our first minister, 23:45.400 --> 23:50.393 to the court of Saint James, John Adams, 23:50.393 --> 23:53.230 who also happened to be the first vice president 23:53.230 --> 23:55.323 of the United States. 23:55.323 --> 23:58.259 Now, not too long after he'd taken up that post, 23:58.259 --> 24:01.000 I'm told that he brought his friend, Thomas Jefferson, 24:01.000 --> 24:03.610 to a reception of the King of England's 24:03.610 --> 24:08.083 where they were both quite pointedly snubbed by his majesty. 24:09.024 --> 24:11.963 It must have been terribly frustrating for them, 24:12.830 --> 24:15.680 but then how could they have expected anything different? 24:16.580 --> 24:20.550 By their very presence, they were announcing 24:20.550 --> 24:23.963 that things were changing in the world, 24:24.920 --> 24:27.470 that there had been a major shift in world affairs. 24:28.340 --> 24:30.694 Their presence there, the court of Saint James 24:30.694 --> 24:34.726 was proof positive that democracy was on the march 24:34.726 --> 24:37.120 and that no empire, however strong, 24:37.120 --> 24:41.083 could conquer a people yearning for freedom. 24:42.810 --> 24:44.560 And so just remember their example. 24:45.680 --> 24:47.220 Remember every time you find yourself 24:47.220 --> 24:50.140 in an awkward situation around the world 24:50.140 --> 24:52.210 that you've been in good company 24:52.210 --> 24:54.850 from the very founding of this country. 24:54.850 --> 24:57.800 And remember that by your very presence 24:57.800 --> 25:00.106 out all across the world, you represent 25:00.106 --> 25:05.106 not only the interests, but the values and the ideals 25:05.600 --> 25:10.010 of 320 million American citizens, 25:10.010 --> 25:11.823 and you represent our way of life. 25:12.830 --> 25:16.480 It's a heavy burden, no doubt, but the president and I 25:16.480 --> 25:19.260 know you're up to it, and I know none of you 25:19.260 --> 25:21.460 would have it any other way. 25:21.460 --> 25:24.440 So to all the ambassadors, chiefs of mission, 25:24.440 --> 25:26.390 dedicated Americans who are here today, 25:27.240 --> 25:29.010 as you prepare to return to your posts, 25:29.010 --> 25:30.420 let me extend to you the gratitude 25:30.420 --> 25:32.810 of the president of the United States, 25:32.810 --> 25:35.490 of his vice president, and to no less extent, 25:35.490 --> 25:36.490 the American people. 25:37.530 --> 25:40.900 And as this, as the grandson of an Irish immigrant 25:40.900 --> 25:45.216 to this country, let me maybe send you off 25:45.216 --> 25:49.093 with an Irish prayer from my heart. 25:49.940 --> 25:51.816 And I know it would be a prayer prayed 25:51.816 --> 25:55.963 by millions of Americans if they were standing here today. 25:57.500 --> 26:02.060 As you return to your duties and those far flung places 26:02.060 --> 26:04.560 in the world of which you've been called to serve, 26:05.537 --> 26:10.537 I pray may the road rise to meet you. 26:12.480 --> 26:14.573 May the wind always be at your back. 26:15.710 --> 26:18.080 May the sun shine warm upon your face. 26:18.080 --> 26:20.830 May the rains fall soft upon your fields. 26:20.830 --> 26:25.370 And until we meet again, may God hold you 26:25.370 --> 26:27.363 in the palm of his hand. 26:28.522 --> 26:31.960 Thank you for your service to the United States of America. 26:31.960 --> 26:33.629 God bless you. 26:33.629 --> 26:35.047 (audience applauding) 26:35.047 --> 26:36.330 And God bless America. 26:38.025 --> 26:41.942 (patriotic instrumental music)