Earlier today President Donald Trump visited the Marine Corps Air Facility in Quantico, Virginia, home of Marine Helicopter Squadron One. There is no immediate full video available (some snippets below), however, there is a transcript of the event.
[Transcript] THE PRESIDENT: So they gave me this hat. It says: “Presidential Helicopter Squadron.” Would you wear it? Now, no other President would do this. But I will, because I’m proud of you. (Applause.) I’m proud of you. What the hell.
Oh, you are nice. I can’t see you in this. (Laughter.) You are — you mean, so you’re the ones taking care of my helicopter, right? (Applause.) I better be nice to you. (Laughter.) I better be nice to you.
I want to congratulate — I know the talent. I’ve had many helicopters. You know, I’m very spoiled; I’ve had helicopters. (Laughter.) And we ordered a couple of big, beautiful new ones. You know about that, right? They paid a lot more than I would have paid, and I would have had them even better, but we won’t talk about that. They paid a lot of money. (Laughter.)
But I want to thank Colonel Hoffman very much. The job you do is incredible. The job that this group of people do is incredible. Colonel, how many presidents have come out to see them? Who was that?
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible) — eight years ago.
VIDEO SNIPPET:
Today, it was my tremendous honor to visit Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) at the Marine Corps Air Facility in Quantico, Virginia.
I am honored to serve as your Commander-in-Chief. On behalf of an entire Nation, THANK YOU for your sacrifice and service. We love you! pic.twitter.com/eLOTc7do52
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2017
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THE PRESIDENT: Oh, eight years ago. Good. Good. President Obama, no? (Applause.) I don’t know.
Well, it is great to be here, surrounded by the Marines. You know, I have a four-star Marine. We just had to get it right. So I picked a four-star Marine. Could have picked a lot people. Everybody wants to be Chief of Staff, right? But I had to go to the Marines.
Where’s Kelly? Where is he? Where is he? Come on over here, Kelly. Come here. Four stars. (Applause.) Say hello. Say hello.
GENERAL KELLY: Best job I ever had — you’ve heard me say it before — being a sergeant in the Marines. Second best job, this one. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: You know, he always said — he always said that. He liked being out there fighting. But we’ll try and keep you out of the fighting. But if we have to fight, oh, boy, it’s not going to be pretty.
You know, we just approved — our enemy is in trouble — we just approved $700 billion, which is the largest ever approved. We got it done. And we’re giving you new equipment. We’re giving you new everything. Because we got depleted over the last eight years — over the last, beyond that.
We’re not depleted anymore. We’re going to have the best equipment in the world. In fact, I’ve been listening, and I have to tell you, it’s true with General Kelly, but I have a lot of Marines with us. Another one is a man named “Mad Dog” Mattis, right? (Applause.) They like him. I love that name. I don’t know if he likes it, actually. I’ve never figured out if he likes the name, but he really deserves the name.
You know, we’ve made tremendous success and had tremendous success now with getting rid of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. I let them do their job. You don’t have to call the White House when you’re getting ready to fight. You know, in the old times — the last administration — you called the White House and you get approval. Not anymore. Not anymore.
So they went out; they’ve done their job. I hear we’re doing really good in Afghanistan. You saw that. I let them do their job. And I let the colonels and the majors and the all of them — the captains — that’s what they do. They graduate, they’re smart, they’re tough, and they do their job. They don’t have to call me to get approval to go into battle with people in places that most people never heard of, but they’re very important.
But we’ve made tremendous progress in Afghanistan, which is tough, because history has proven Afghanistan is a tough place to win. But we’re winning. We just started winning.
And I just want to thank Secretary Mattis. And I really want to thank the United States Marines — really special people. So you’re fantastic people. And when we were around them, they said, sir, if you’d like we can stop, but we don’t have to. I said, are you crazy? Of course, I have to stop.
And, by the way, how good is that sucker with all of those moving parts? Is that good stuff? Huh? Is that good? (Applause.) You know, it’s General Kelly’s favorite. He loves it. And should I love that one?
AUDIENCE: Yeah!
THE PRESIDENT: It’s perfected now, right?
AUDIENCE: Yeah!
THE PRESIDENT: Huh? Any no’s out there? Are there any no’s? No? I have a lot of respect for it. It’s an amazing concept.
But for more than half a century, Marine Helicopter Squadron One has served as one of the most visible symbols of the presidency. Today, there are few sights more awe-inspiring than Marine One flying up the Potomac — true, incredible — past the Washington Monument and landing on the South Lawn of the White House. It’s an incredible privilege to take that flight.
I remember the first time I got on Marine One. Air Force One, Marine One — I said, which was better? I wouldn’t tell you. You know why? Because I don’t want the word to get back to some other people. (Laughter.) But I felt very, very good about our country. I’m very proud of our country when I got that first flight and every time I get on it. So I appreciate the job you do. Thank you.
It’s an honor to serve as your Commander-in-Chief. And we love you folks and we’re going to take care of you like you’ve never been taken care of before — and I think you know that. Every time I climb on the incredible machine, I think of United States Marines.
This year, the HMX-1 has executed more than 6,300 flight hours at 160 presidential lifts. Every step of the way, the Nighthawks have been flawless — every step. Thank you for your incredible care. Really, its a care for the office of the presidency, of myself and my family. Your professionalism is a fitting tribute to all who wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. You know what I mean by that, right? (Applause.)
A Marine is often the last person I see when leaving the White House and the first upon my return. Nothing is more reassuring. And my pledge to you is that I will have your back just as you will always — and have always — had mine.
This week, I signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes major investments in weapon systems, equipment, and most importantly, in you. I’m pleased to report this legislation also includes the largest pay raise you have received in more than eight years. (Applause.) I guess I’m a bad negotiator. (Laughter.)
I will fight to ensure Congress funds these priorities and funds your priorities — eliminates the defense sequester. We want to get rid of the sequester. The sequester, you all know what that is; that has been very hard on our military, and I think we’ll have it gone. And I know the General is working on it and we’re going to get it out. We don’t want it — especially in these times. These are dangerous times. The stronger we are, the less likely we will have to use that strength, right?
And it provides you and your incredible families what we just signed with the kind of support that you deserve. We’re working every day on your behalf. And together, we are going to make America stronger than ever before.
You know, I ran a campaign, and it was a very successful campaign — you might have heard about it — and we won very easily. We won by — we had 306 Electoral College votes to 223, or something like that. Remember they used to say, “There is no way for Trump to get to 270.” Remember? Over and over again. That’s called voter suppression. If you believe that, you might say, “I love Trump but I’m not going to waste my time — let’s go see a movie and we’ll come home and watch the results tonight.” Right? But everybody said, “No, I’m not going to a movie; we’re going to vote.” And they voted.
And we didnt get to 270; we got 306. That’s even better, right? So we had an amazing time. But I had an expression that I think goes down as the best of all time. It was very simple: Make America Great Again. Right? (Applause.) Make America Great Again. And that’s what we’re doing — we’re making America great again. And it’s people like yourselves that are doing it. I am so impressed.
So, again, I want to thank you all. Say hello to your families. Tell them the respect I have for them, because they have to put up with everything so this can all happen. They dont get the credit they should get. You know, they dont get the — the families never, ever get the credit. But they have done an incredible job in this kind of — when they produce people like you. So you go home and you give your families a big, beautiful kiss from the President of the United States, because we’re proud of them and we’re really, really proud of you.
Thank you for the great job you’ve done. Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Honored to be here. Thank you. (Applause.)
Such an awesome awesome man….So glad that Trump ran & won the election.
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I still pinch myself every morning! After almost a decade of being afraid of the news EVERY DAY, whenever I now see the lights on at night in the White House I feel a calm come over me.
God Bless President Trump, and all of his protectors!
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Well-said and amen, WSB. EVERY DAY.
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Truly believe that the election was in the hands of the Lord.
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Amen!
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Yes TY Lord
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Amen
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Amen
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No question. Amen!
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Just too many factors to make it any other way.
Now we have the devil trying to get us to turn on him.
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Merry Christmas 🎄
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So they gave me this hat. It says: “Presidential Helicopter Squadron.” Would you wear it? Now, no other President would do this. But I will, because I’m proud of you. (Applause.) I’m proud of you. What the hell.—- I love this man!!!!
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We haven’t had such a down to earth President in a Long time..
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Every day I say that! He is the most amazing man I have ever seen. I can’t help it! He just inspires people to do great things and the evil people just hate the good he brings out in us.
Words can’t express my gratitude to him and the woulda/coulda/shoulda’s need to take a break.
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“But if we have to fight, oh boy, it’s not going to be pretty!!!!
Cue: The Big Ugly?
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He’s surrounded himself with the military that know that HE’s their boss and follow the chain of command…..just what he will need if the swamp dwellers try anything…a smart pre-emptive move on his part.
God Bless this man and his family….he’s our last hope to save the republic.
Half of the country is brainwashed into thinking he is their enemy; they will never stop to see that he is saving the country for them.
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Eventually many more than we thought possible will see it. Not everybody who listens to the naysayers is totally brainwashed and when the tide turns it’s gonna be a tsunami.
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My first thought, too.
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Dang i love our President!
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That is what a true leader looks and sounds like!
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Two of my favorite people. President Trump and the Marines. My husband enlisted when we were dating and ended up serving 20 years. Thank you President Trump for acknowledging the families behind the men and women. It all works together.
Semper Fi!
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Thank you, Katie for your and your husband’s service!
Same for all you current and former service members and their families!
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If you are married to a Marine, or the children of a Marine…or close to a Marine, you are in the “Family of Marines” They will forever care for you.
Semper Fi
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My brother served in this squadron in the 60s. He went on to become the president of the International Locksmith’s Association. He is a great man who loves our country and loves this president.
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He makes me want to be a Marine.
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A true leader like no other! God Bless you President Trump!!
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We got your back too Mr. President!!
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Yes we do!!
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It takes a good man to give up so much to serve our Country and it takes a fearless leader to go against the deep state to MAGA! Thank God for President Trump!
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President Trump is the best Christmas gift ever!
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What a blessing this man is to our country
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You know what I like about President Trump. I’m not waking up postal anymore.
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good stuff…most people don’t understand how all of this works, but the helicopters on call are normally on station across the river in Anacostia where they await a presidential summons. Minimal maintenance is done there…the heavy lifting is done down the river at the airfield in Quantico where depot/GS-level maintenance is performed. Quantico is practically in my back yard so I’ve seen a lot of wheels in motion over there over the years, so to speak. Still nothing quite like driving past the National Military Cemetery at Quantico on my way down south…similar to Arlington, but different in Marine kind of way. Plus there is a great museum there…well worth visiting. BTW, the Army will be opening their national museum in the near future at Fort Belvoir and the Marines have set the bar very high. OOORAH and HOOAH to all those who serve.
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Quantico. Spent a lot of time there. Let those commies at FBI HQ cut my hair…walking around in pleated pants and docker shoes without any socks. Girly men. Otherwise, kinda miss that place to be honest.
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A man who wants to do good for the people of America, for our economy, for our military, for the entire nation…thank you, President Trump.
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I am at a point that as I read the transcript, I actually am hearing the President speaking to me. He is just such an incredible man, leader, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He absolutely loves his job and he loves the men and women that serve our country. Every time I hear his speak to our about our military, I get this feeling that his love for them is the same love he has for his kids and grandkids.
He allows our military leaders do what they were trained to do. There is no micromanaging from the White House. The difference must be day and night compared to the previous moron that called himself President.
Our nation is in the best hands possible! Thank you God for our President!
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me too
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Do you remember the photo of DJT touching the face of the armless veteran at one of his rallies? That one picture tells you about DJT, it tells you all you need to know about him.
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I concur with your sentiments. Reading the transcript is just like hearing him speak.
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I truly believe that the previous admin. was run by Jarret, Sunstein and Powers….Barry was just a figurehead that stayed out of the way….hence the many rounds of golf….and appeared in front of the teleprompter when needed….otherwise I believe he had very little input into policy.
He’s an ignorant man….that’s one of the reasons the public isn’t allowd to see his college transcripts….that and the fact that it probably lists his nationality as something other than American on the college paperwork as well as his passport.
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I have always believed that Jarrett ran everything…..Obama was the empty suit to be the public face.
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I always laughed when Obama got off the helicopter with some books, covers carefully displayed outward, to show what an intelligent, well-read person he was. Well, that went on for a very brief period and then I guess he didn’t have you show anyone how smart he was and you never saw books again.
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What the media hears…
President Trump politicizes visit with dig at President Obama
President Trump makes visit about himself when he mentions Obama never visited, but he did
What the American people hear…
A man pointing out how spoiled, ungrateful & entitled an ex-President was
A President pointing out he visited because of how grateful & appreciative he is of their service
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WE LOVE YOU, MR. PRESIDENT!!!
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SORRY!!! Last time I posted that during the campaign, it was much smaller!
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Looks good to me. When you are talking about our love for President Trump, there is no such phrase as TOO BIG!
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Just like HIS heart!
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The only thing to be sorry about is saying SORRY!
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It’s the heart of the nation and it’s grown in size since president Trump has taken office
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YES ❤️!!!
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What a beautiful speech. I would have loved to have heard it. It’s so refreshing to have a president that genuinely cares for our men and women in uniform. I have family members that have served and are currently serving and so I have a deep appreciation for all branches of the service.
God bless our troops and our amazing president!
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I love our inspiring loyal President!
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Wonderful, just wonderful.
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What a man. Divine Providence.
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I know every member of our military will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and equally important its citizens and Commander-in-Chief.
But President Trump said it the BEST I’ve ever heard…he’s the last to see you Marines when he lifts off and the first to see when President Trump lands.
And he’ll never give you a half ass salute holding a cup of coffee.
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