Text of a Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Persons who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 2020

NOTICE   - - - - - - -   CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS WHO COMMIT, THREATEN TO COMMIT, OR SUPPORT TERRORISM        On September 23, 2001, by Executive Order 13224, the President declared a national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists, including the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, in New York and Pennsylvania and against the Pentagon, and the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks against United States nationals or the United States.      On September 9, 2019, I signed Executive Order 13886 to strengthen and consolidate sanctions to combat the continuing threat posed by international terrorism and to take additional steps to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13224.     The actions of persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, as amended, and the measures adopted to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond September 23, 2020.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism declared in Executive Order 13224, as amended.          This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.                              DONALD J. TRUMP

Statement from the Press Secretary on the Largest FEMA Infrastructure Grants Being Awarded to Puerto Rico

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 2020 Statement from the Press Secretary on the Largest FEMA Infrastructure Grants Being Awarded to Puerto Rico The Trump Administration announced that the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) plans to award two of its largest grants ever for infrastructure projects in Puerto Rico.  Under the leadership of President Trump, FEMA will award almost $13 billion to help rebuild Puerto Rico’s electrical grid system and spur recovery of the territory’s education system—the largest obligations of funding ever awarded.  This funding amount includes a Federal share of $11.6 billion for the projects.  Together, these grants exceed the total Public Assistance funding in any single federally-declared disaster other than Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.  Federal funding of $9.6 billion will allow the Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority to repair and replace thousands of miles of transmission and distribution lines, electrical substations, power generation systems, office buildings, and make other grid improvements.  The $2 billion grant for the Puerto Rico Department of Education will focus on restoring school buildings and educational facilities across the island. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 included funding for FEMA to support Hurricane Maria response and recovery, as well as language helping FEMA to ensure that Puerto Rico rebuilds its critical lifelines, services, and facilities in accordance with current industry standards.   All critical infrastructure projects are funded under FEMA’s Public Assistance Alternative Procedures, pursuant to Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.  This innovative funding method allows Puerto Rican officials to work with FEMA to determine how to best meet their unique recovery needs.  As part of the 428 procedures, the funding being announced today was reviewed and validated by an independent expert review panel and agreed to by both FEMA and Puerto Rico.  With the grant awards announced today, the Federal Government will have obligated approximately $26 billion for Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane Maria.  Today’s grant announcements represent some of the largest awards in FEMA’s history for any single disaster recovery event and demonstrate the Federal Government’s continuing commitment to help rebuild the territory and support the citizens of Puerto Rico and their recovery goals.

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 2020

President Donald J. Trump is Awarding the Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander   Today, President Donald J. Trump is awarding the Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander, to His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait.    A leader in the Middle East for decades, the Amir has been a truly unwavering friend and partner to the United States.  He provided indispensable support to the United States throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Defeat-ISIS campaign.  The Amir is also an unparalleled diplomat, having served as his nation’s Foreign Minister for 40 years.  His tireless mediation of disputes in the Middle East has bridged divides under the most challenging circumstances.  The President is very pleased to award this honor to his dear friend, the Amir.   The Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander, is a rarely-awarded, prestigious decoration that can only be bestowed by the President, typically to chiefs of state or heads of government of other countries.  The honor was last awarded in 1991.   The Amir’s eldest son, His Excellency Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah of the State of Kuwait, will accept the award on behalf of the Amir in a private ceremony.

Presidential Message on the 73rd Birthday of the United State Air Force

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 2020 Presidential Message on the 73rd Birthday of the United State Air Force   On the 73rd birthday of the United States Air Force, I join our grateful Nation in celebrating the world’s most powerful flying force.  As Commander in Chief, I salute all of the Airmen who defend our country and promote peace with unparalleled service and excellence.   The United States Air Force is instrumental in protecting the American people, advancing our Nation’s interests around the world, and ensuring that our country is a global leader in innovation and aviation.  Airmen have spearheaded previously unthinkable advancements, including breaking the sound barrier, activating the Global Positioning System, and launching the first remotely piloted aircraft.  True to its mission, our Air Force continues to fearlessly break new horizons in defense of our cherished American freedoms.   Since it was officially established in 1947, the Air Force has been a force for good at home and abroad.  Overseas, our Airmen provide our Armed Forces in all domains with combat airpower, mobility, and superior intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.  Each day, they dutifully carry out their mission to serve and defend the American people with unwavering conviction.  Whether deployed for combat operations, natural disasters, or safeguarding the homeland from threats, the Air Force protects our freedoms and secures the skies.  Today, our Airmen are fighting abroad and playing a critical role at home in our fight against the coronavirus, delivering assistance to those in need from coast to coast.   The Air Force has ensured that the United States retained air superiority in all of our conflicts and missions since its founding 73 years ago.  Today, we recognize all the men and women who serve as Airmen and who Fly, Fight, and Win.  We thank all of our Nation’s service members and their families for their immeasurable service and sacrifice.

Presidential Message on Rosh Hashanah, 2020

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 2020 Presidential Message on Rosh Hashanah, 2020   The First Lady and I wish our Jewish brothers and sisters Shana Tova and hope the millions observing this sacred day in America and around the world have a blessed start to the High Holy Days.   As this 10-day period of celebration, devout prayer, reflection, and repentance commences, we are reminded of how important faith, family, and fellowship are to each of us.  Particularly during these challenging times, the sense of peace and reassurance that comes with these observances has never been more important in helping us seek His wisdom and understanding as we continue to grow in our faith.   This year’s High Holy Days come with a sense of optimism for the people of Israel, as my Administration continues to make great strides in securing a more stable, prosperous, and peaceful Middle East region.  Last month, we secured a historic agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel—the first between Israel and a major Arab country since 1994—that normalizes relations between the two countries, including the exchange of embassies and ambassadors, as well as enhanced cooperation in a broad range of fields including education, healthcare, trade, and security.  And, just days after Bahrain reached a similar deal with Israel, we were proud to host the leaders of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain at the White House earlier this week for the signing of these agreements and the Abraham Accords as a whole.  As the High Holy Days begin, this momentous milestone in geopolitical relations is a reminder that we can create a coalition of nations that have shared goals of eliminating extremism and promoting security and prosperity, while also  respecting religious freedom and building a more hopeful tomorrow for future generations.   Melania and I pray that He blesses all Jewish people throughout these High Holy Days.  We hope that these 10 days provide those observing this special time a respite to build their faith and better experience the many blessings of the Almighty’s love and mercy.

Proclamation on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2020

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2020 NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY, 2020   - - - - - - -   BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   A PROCLAMATION          Throughout our Nation's history, America's sons and daughters have heroically safeguarded our precious freedoms and defended the cause of liberty both at home and abroad.  On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we remember the more than 500,000 prisoners of war who have endured incredible suffering and brutality under conditions of extraordinary privation, and the tens of thousands of our patriots who are still missing in action.  Although our Nation will never be able to fully repay our debt to those who have given so much on our behalf, we commemorate their bravery and recommit to working for their long-suffering families who deserve answers and solace for their missing loved ones.      Today, I join a grateful Nation in honoring those POWs who faithfully served through extreme hardship and unimaginable physical and emotional trauma.  Their lives and resilience reflect the best of the American Spirit, and their immeasurable sacrifices have ensured the blessings of freedom for future generations.  On this day, we also reaffirm our unceasing global efforts to obtain the fullest possible accounting of our MIA personnel.  The search, recovery, and repatriation of MIA remains help bring closure to families bearing the burden of the unresolved fate of their loved ones.  That is why in 2018, I worked to secure the historic repatriation of remains from North Korea, and why we are continually working to bring more home from around the world.  My Administration will never waver in fulfilling our country's obligation to leave no service member behind.      This year, as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and reflect upon both the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War and the 45th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, we pause to recognize the men and women who were held as POWs or deemed MIA in these conflicts against repressive ideologies.  These service members and civilians, many from the Greatest Generation, deserve a special place of honor in the hearts of all Americans because of their selfless devotion, unflinching courage, and unsurpassed dedication to our cherished American values.      On September 18, 2020, our Nation's citizens will look to the iconic black and white flag as a powerful reminder of the service of America's POWs and service members who have gone MIA.  This flag, especially when flying high above our military installations abroad, conveys the powerful message of American devotion to the cause of human liberty and our commitment to never forget the brave Americans lost defending that liberty.  On this National POW/MIA Recognition Day, our Nation takes a special moment to pay tribute to those who endured the horrors of enemy captivity and those lost in service to our country.  Our Nation will continue to be resolute in our relentless pursuit of those remains of service members who have yet to return home from war and our steadfast promise to their families that their loved ones will never be forgotten.      NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 18, 2020, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day.  Together with the people of the United States, I salute all American POWs who, in the presence of great dangers and uncertainties, valiantly honored their duty to this great country.  Let this day also serve as a reminder for our Nation to strengthen our resolve to account for those who are still missing and provide their families long-sought answers.  I call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and private organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE MARINE ONE DEPARTURE South Lawn

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2020 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE MARINE ONE DEPARTURE South Lawn   6:34 P.M. EDT           THE PRESIDENT:  So we’re going to Wisconsin.  We have a big crowd, as you know.  Some of you are coming with us.  A lot of good things are happening.  Very, very positive things.        Any questions?        Q    Mr. President, why did the White House not mail five reusable masks to every household in America, through the Post Office?        THE PRESIDENT:  I don’t understand.  Go ahead.        Q    How was your briefing about TikTok today?  And what’s your decision going to be on TikTok?        THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we’re making a decision.  We spoke today to Walmart, Oracle -- I guess, Microsoft is still involved.  We’ll make a decision.  But nothing much has changed.  We’ll make a decision soon.        Q    Mr. President, what’s your response to Olivia Troye and some of these former administration officials who are coming out to criticize you?  You hired them.        THE PRESIDENT:  I just heard about that.  I don’t know her.  She worked for the Vice President.  She was on the task force as some kind of a lower-level person.  I have no idea who she is.  I don’t met her -- I never met her, to the best of my knowledge.  Maybe she was in a room.  I have no idea who she is.  She doesn’t know me.  It’s just another person that leaves, and whether it’s CNN or Washington Post, they say negative things.        We have a letter from her, I was just told, that is absolutely the most beautiful going-away letter.  She was terminated.  They didn’t want her.  She was terminated.  She has nothing to do with me.  I don’t know her.  I never met her.  May have been in a room or something, but I never met her.         She -- Mike Pence came to me; he told me about her.  He said she left.  They let her go with cause, but they let her go.  And then she wrote a beautiful letter, as I understand it -- a letter praising the administration.  But then the people get a hold of her and said, “Let’s say some bad things about Donald Trump.”         The same thing with that other young gentleman, Miles.  I never met him.  I don’t know him.  He’s on your network all the time, CNN.  I have no idea who he is.  It’s a terrible thing.         We have a big government.  Every time somebody leaves government, 99 percent of the time, I’m not going to know these people.  And they leave on a basis of almost like it’s a personal thing with me.  I have no idea who this person was, but we’ll give you a copy of her letter.        Q    Why are there so many former employees saying negative things?        THE PRESIDENT:  We’ll give you a copy of her letter, and her letter was a beautiful letter, everything wonderful from, I guess, a couple of months ago.  I didn’t read it, but I heard it was a beautiful letter.        General Keith Kellogg, one of the most respected people in the military -- he’s a great guy; you know him; we all know him -- he just went on television excoriating her, saying what a disgrace it is that they’re allowed to do it.        Anytime somebody leaves our big, massive government, they leave and they try and -- they get coerced into saying bad things.  And it’s very unfortunate.  It’s a very sad thing.  But you know what?        Q    She said all you care about is reelection.  Is that true?        THE PRESIDENT:  Here’s the bottom line: We’ve done more than any President in the first three and a half years.  Nobody has done what we’ve done.  Nobody has accomplished what we’ve accomplished.  We will very soon have peace in the Middle East, if you can believe that one.  We’re going to have peace in the Middle East.  We have five other nations that want to sign like almost immediately.  You’ll end up with peace in the Middle East.        I have no idea who this person was, but we wish her well.  Thank you very much.                                  END                 6:37 P.M. EDT

1600 Daily The White House • September 17, 2020 President Trump: ‘Our youth will be taught to love America with all of their heart’

 

The White House • September 17, 2020 President Trump: ‘Our youth will be taught to love America with all of their heart’ President Trump is fighting each day against the left’s attempts to indoctrinate our children with a radical, misleading, and unpatriotic story of America.   Divisive and distorted histories of our country—everything from Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States to The New York Times’ 1619 Project—seek to erase America’s tradition of liberty, free expression, and self-determination from memory.   For too long, the left has been winning that fight. For example, even though the 1619 Project has been criticized as inaccurate by multiple prominent historians, it already has been quietly disseminated in 4,500 classrooms across the United States.    President Trump: We must stop the lies in America’s classrooms   Today marks 233 years since the signing of our U.S. Constitution. To honor this Constitution Day, President Trump spoke at the White House Conference on American History held today at the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. The event brought together scholars to address the way some have distorted American history.   “Our Constitution was the product of centuries of tradition, wisdom, and experience,” President Trump said. “No political document has done more to advance the human condition or propel the engine of progress.”   The President also announced today that he would sign an executive order launching the “1776 Commission,” which will promote patriotic education for our students. The commission will encourage educators to make plans to celebrate the 250th birthday of America’s founding, as well.   Earlier this month, President Trump banned Federal agencies from using taxpayer dollars to fund divisive, anti-American employee training programs.   “American parents are not going to accept indoctrination in our schools, cancel culture in our work, or the repression of traditional faith, culture, and values in the public square,” the President said today.   When left-wing mobs tear down statues of our Founding Fathers, burn small businesses to the ground, and attack law enforcement officers daily—all with barely a peep from Democrat politicians—it is clear we are witnessing the results of decades of left-wing indoctrination in our schools, universities, and news media.   “We are here today to declare that we will never submit to tyranny,” President Trump told those gathered at the National Archives today.   “We will reclaim our history and our country for citizens of every race, color, religion, and creed.”    No American should be made to feel ashamed of their history    Watch President Trump’s full Constitution Day speech here! Photo of the Day President Trump delivers remark

One Nomination Sent to the Senate

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2020 NOMINATION SENT TO THE SENATE:        Sharon E. Goodie, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice Patricia A. Broderick, term expired.   ###

Proclamation on Constitution Day, Citizenship Day, And Constitution Week, 2020

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2020 CONSTITUTION DAY, CITIZENSHIP DAY, AND CONSTITUTION WEEK, 2020   - - - - - - -   BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   A PROCLAMATION          In the summer of 1787, fifty-five delegates from throughout the fledgling United States gathered at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, intent on erecting a government that would stand the test of time and protect hard‑won freedoms secured during the Revolutionary War.  Two hundred and thirty-three years later, the document they produced -- our Constitution -- remains the bedrock of our system of government, one rooted in equality under the law and an unyielding commitment to individual liberty.  On this day and during this week, we celebrate our great founding charter as an enduring beacon of freedom and strive toward active citizenship in service of its ideals.      With profound wisdom, the Framers of our Constitution divided political power among three separate and coequal branches, and further between the Federal and State governments, ensuring that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people would remain accountable to its citizens, from whom all legitimate political power is derived.  Our Constitution outlines a government that encourages individuals to flourish while still empowering the state to perform necessary functions like protecting law and order and providing essential public goods.  This revolutionary concept has made and continues to make our Nation the most free and just society in the world.  Because its principles are timeless and rooted in truth, our Constitution has fostered freedom at home, as well as the liberation of countless oppressed peoples around the world.  In the more than 2 centuries since its ratification, it has served as an unparalleled engine for human progress.      A key feature of our Constitution is an independent Federal judiciary, which helps safeguard its structure and ensure individual rights.  In Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton describes the proper role of the courts as keeping the legislature "within the limits assigned to their authority," handing down decisions in accordance with the principle that "a constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law."  In reverence of the wisdom of the Founders, I have made it a top priority to nominate to the Federal bench only those judges who have demonstrated a commitment to enforcing the Constitution as written.  To date, I have nominated and the Senate has confirmed more than 240 judges who will faithfully adhere to this foundational judicial principle, including two incredible Supreme Court Justices.      While freedom-loving Americans rightfully venerate and defend our Constitution, we must also remain cognizant that there are those in our society who wish to tear down our institutions and threaten our sacred constitutional freedoms.  In recent months, statues of great American heroes like Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt have been threatened, torn down, defaced, and destroyed.  In cities throughout our country, radical groups have attacked monuments honoring the unrivaled contributions our Founding Fathers made to human freedom.  These groups and individuals are attempting to topple constitutional law and order -- the very foundation of self-government -- by attacking the Constitution and the integrity of our national heroes, falsely decrying our country and its institutions as evil and unjust.      As President, I will never allow such heinous attacks to go unpunished.  I will continue to honor the legacy of our history by protecting our freedoms and safeguarding our Constitution and the boundless opportunity it affords to the people of our great Nation.  We should always celebrate the brave Americans who fought tyranny to secure the very liberty that these extremists take for granted.  To this end, in June of this year, I signed an Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues, and Combating Recent Criminal Violence, ensuring that anarchy and base criminal acts will no longer tarnish memorials built to honor the heroes who have served our country and defended our Constitution.  On this Constitution and Citizenship Day, and during this Constitution Week, we recommit to upholding our constitutional system, to honoring its Framers and those who have sacrificed to defend it -- who knew the true price of liberty -- and to embracing the duty we as citizens have to preserve the society it has built.      The Congress, by joint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106), designated September 17 as "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day," and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108), requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as "Constitution Week."      NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2020, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and September 17, 2020, through September 23, 2020, as Constitution Week.  On this day and during this week, we celebrate the citizens and the Constitution that have made America the greatest Nation this world has ever known.  In doing so, we recommit ourselves to the enduring principles of the Constitution and thereby "secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity."      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.                                  DONALD J. TRUMP

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AMERICAN HISTORY National Archives Museum Washington, D.C.

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2020 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AMERICAN HISTORY   National Archives Museum Washington, D.C.       2:54 P.M. EDT        THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Thank you, Mike.  A great Vice President.  I am truly honored to be here at the very first White House Conference on American History.  So important.        Our mission is to defend the legacy of America’s founding, the virtue of America’s heroes, and the nobility of the American character.  We must clear away the twisted web of lies in our schools and classrooms, and teach our children the magnificent truth about our country.  We want our sons and daughters to know that they are the citizens of the most exceptional nation in the history of the world.  (Applause.)        To grow up in America is to live in a land where anything is possible, where anyone can rise, and where any dream can come true -- all because of the immortal principles our nation’s founders inscribed nearly two and a half centuries ago.        That's why we have come to the National Archives, the sacred home of our national memory.  In this great chamber, we preserve our glorious inheritance: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights.        On this very day in 1787, our Founding Fathers signed the Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.  It was the fulfillment of a thousand years of Western civilization.  Our Constitution was the product of centuries of tradition, wisdom, and experience.  No political document has done more to advance the human condition or propel the engine of progress.        Yet, as we gather this afternoon, a radical movement is attempting to demolish this treasured and precious inheritance.  We can't let that happen.  (Applause.)  Left-wing mobs have torn down statues of our founders, desecrated our memorials, and carried out a campaign of violence and anarchy.  Far-left demonstrators have chanted the words “America was never great.”  The left has launched a vicious and violent assault on law enforcement -- the universal symbol of the rule of law in America.  These radicals have been aided and abetted by liberal politicians, establishment media, and even large corporations.         Whether it is the mob on the street, or the cancel culture in the boardroom, the goal is the same: to silence dissent, to scare you out of speaking the truth, and to bully Americans into abandoning their values, their heritage, and their very way of life.        We are here today to declare that we will never submit to tyranny.  We will reclaim our history and our country for citizens of every race, color, religion, and creed.         The radicals burning American flags want to burn down the principles enshrined in our founding documents, including the bedrock principle of equal justice under law.  In order to radically transform America, they must first cause Americans to lose confidence in who we are, where we came from, and what we believe.  As I said at Mount Rushmore -- which they would love to rip down and it rip it down fast, and that’s never going to happen -- two months ago, the left-wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American Revolution.        As many of you testified today, the left-wing rioting and mayhem are the direct result of decades of left-wing indoctrination in our schools.  It's gone on far too long.  Our children are instructed from propaganda tracts, like those of Howard Zinn, that try to make students ashamed of their own history.         The left has warped, distorted, and defiled the American story with deceptions, falsehoods, and lies.  There is no better example than the New York Times’ totally discredited 1619 Project.  This project rewrites American history to teach our children that we were founded on the principle of oppression, not freedom.        Nothing could be further from the truth.  America’s founding set in motion the unstoppable chain of events that abolished slavery, secured civil rights, defeated communism and fascism, and built the most fair, equal, and prosperous nation in human history.  (Applause.)        The narratives about America being pushed by the far-left and being chanted in the streets bear a striking resemblance to the anti-American propaganda of our adversaries -- because both groups want to see America weakened, derided, and totally diminished.        Students in our universities are inundated with critical race theory.  This is a Marxist doctrine holding that America is a wicked and racist nation, that even young children are complicit in oppression, and that our entire society must be radically transformed.  Critical race theory is being forced into our children’s schools, it’s being imposed into workplace trainings, and it’s being deployed to rip apart friends, neighbors, and families.        A perfect example of critical race theory was recently published by the Smithsonian Institution.  This document alleged that concepts such as hard work, rational thinking, the nuclear family, and belief in God were not values that unite all Americans, but were instead aspects of “whiteness.”  This is offensive and outrageous to Americans of every ethnicity, and it is especially harmful to children of minority backgrounds who should be uplifted, not disparaged.         Teaching this horrible doctrine to our children is a form of child abuse in the truest sense of those words.  For many years now, the radicals have mistaken Americans’ silence for weakness.  But they’re wrong.         There is no more powerful force than a parent’s love for their children.  And patriotic moms and dads are going to demand that their children are no longer fed hateful lies about this country.  American parents are not going to accept indoctrination in our schools, cancel culture at our work, or the repression of traditional faith, culture, and values in the public square.  Not anymore.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.        We embrace the vision of Martin Luther King, where children are not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.         The left is attempting to destroy that beautiful vision and divide Americans by race in the service of political power.  By viewing every issue through the lens of race, they want to impose a new segregation, and we must not allow that to happen.        Critical race theory, the 1619 Project, and the crusade against American history is toxic propaganda, ideological poison that, if not removed, will dissolve the civic bonds that tie us together.  It will destroy our country.        That is why I recently banned trainings in this prejudiced ideology from the federal government and banned it in the strongest manner possible.  (Applause.)        The only path to national unity is through our shared identity as Americans.  That is why it is so urgent that we finally restore patriotic education to our schools.        Under our leadership, the National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded a grant to support the development of a pro-American curriculum that celebrates the truth about our nation’s great history.  (Applause.)        We are joined by some of the respected scholars involved in this project, including Professor Wilfred McClay.  Wilfred, please.  Thank you very much.  Welcome.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Dr. Peter Wood of the National Association of Scholars.  Dr. Peter.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.  And Ted Rebarber.  Thank you, Ted.  (Applause.)  Thank you very much, Ted.        Today, I am also pleased to announce that I will soon sign an Executive Order establishing a national commission to promote patriotic education.  It will be called the “1776 Commission.”  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.  It will encourage our educators to teach our children about the miracle of American history and make plans to honor the 250th anniversary of our founding.  Think of that -- 250 years.        Recently, I also signed an executive order to establish the National Garden of American Heroes, a vast outdoor park that will feature the statues of the greatest Americans who have ever lived.         Today, I am announcing a new name for inclusion. One of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence was a patriot from Delaware.  In July of 1776, the Continental Congress was deadlocked during the debate over independence.  The delegation from Delaware was divided.  Caesar Rodney was called upon to break the tie.         Even though he was suffering from very advanced cancer -- he was deathly ill -- Rodney rode 80 miles through the night, through a severe thunderstorm, from Dover to Philadelphia to cast his vote for independence.        For nearly a century, a statue of one of Delaware’s most beloved citizens stood in Rodney Square, right in the heart of Wilmington.         But this past June, Caesar Rodney’s statue was ordered removed by the mayor and local politicians as part of a radical purge of America’s founding generation.        Today, because of an order I signed, if you demolish a statue without permission, you immediately get 10 years in prison.  (Applause.)  And there have been no statues demolished for the last four months, incredibly, since the time I signed that act.        Joe Biden said nothing as to his home state’s history and the fact that it was dismantled and dismembered.  And a Founding Father’s statue was removed.          Today, America will give this Founding Father, this very brave man, who was so horribly treated, the place of honor he deserves.  I am announcing that a statue of Caesar Rodney will be added to the National Garden of American Heroes.  (Applause.)          From Washington to Lincoln, from Jefferson to King, America has been home to some of the most incredible people who have ever lived.  With the help of everyone here today, the legacy of 1776 will never be erased.  Our heroes will never be forgotten.  Our youth will be taught to love America with all of their heart and all of their soul.         We will save this cherished inheritance for our children, for their children, and for every generation to come.  This is a very important day.         Thank you all once again for being here.  Now I will sign the Constitution Day Proclamation.  God Bless You.  And God Bless America.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)  Thank you.        (The proclamation is signed.)  (Applause.)                                  END                 3:13 P.M. EDT

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP ON THE REPATRIATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS AND REMAINS

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2020 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP ON THE REPATRIATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS AND REMAINS      Oval Office     12:21 P.M. EDT        THE PRESIDENT:  Okay, thank you very much for being here as we commemorate the return of historic Native American artifacts and sacred remains to American soil.  That’s a big thing.  They’ve been working on this for a long time.  Long, long time.  Many, many years.         With us today is our Finnish Ambassador, who we just had the privilege of meeting.  The Finnish Ambassador has been a friend of this country, and now he's officially a friend.  So, congratulations.  I'd like to congratulate you, as well as you, as Ambassador to Finland, Bob Pence.  Thank you very much.  And Bob, thank you very much.  Appreciate it.         We’re also joined by Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney, and officials of Finland’s National Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian.  I also want to thank Colorado Senator, Cory Gardner.  He was so instrumental on this.  He's been a great senator for his support for Native American communities.  Worked very hard.         Nearly 130 years ago, treasured Native American artifacts were excavated from the great state of Colorado by European archeologists.  For the past seven decades, several administrations have tried -- and they have tried very hard; they were unable to do it -- to negotiate the return of these precious artifacts.         Last October, I worked with the President of Finland, who agreed to bring these priceless possessions back to the 26 Indian tribes of the Mesa Verde region in American Southwest -- in the American Southwest.  And they’ve been trying to get it for a long time, so we got it done.  Right?  That’s a big thing.  Thank you, David.        Five days ago, the remains were repatriated to their ancestral homeland and given a proper burial.  And this was with big ceremony.         My administration also brought back the Acoma Pueblo Shield to New Mexico last November, and that was very important to the great people of New Mexico.          I'm committed to working with tribal leaders to ensure their cherished heritage is honored, respected, and preserved, as it should be.  As my administration did last year, it increased Native American access to eagle feathers.        My administration is fighting for Native American communities.  We made the largest investment in Indian Country in the history of our country.  We have $8 billion in CARES Act funds to protect Native American health.  Eight billions dollars -- that’s the largest amount of money ever spent on the Indian reservations.  I created task forces on missing and murdered American Indians and protecting Native American children.  And we’re working on that very hard.         Law enforcement is really working on it.  We've made tremendous progress.  It’s a -- it’s a terrible situation, but we've made tremendous progress on that, and we’re being thanked by a lot of people.  It’s a terrible situation, but we’ll continue to work hard on the -- on that problem and many other problems with Indian Country and the problems that they’ve got.        We’re really -- I think we’re really doing a job.        David, you can be very proud of the job you're doing.  Right?  In particular, Tara.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Big progress being made?        MS. SWEENEY:  Absolutely.        THE PRESIDENT:  What would you like to say while you have the media, Tara?  Would you like to say something before we introduce some of the other people?        MS. SWEENEY:  Thank you, Mr. President.  I would like to acknowledge the government of Finland, the National Museum of Finland, and Ambassador Pence, as well, for your tireless efforts in bringing these very important, culturally significant items home.         And, President, your leadership through other initiatives like Operation Lady Justice and the Opioid Task Force underscores your commitment to Indian Country and Alaskan Native communities.  Thank you.        THE PRESIDENT:  It's been so devastating to Indian Country.  I mean, it's been so horrible what's gone on with the kidnappings, the killings, the whole thing.  It's just been incredible.  Probably mostly led by drugs, right?  Mostly led by drugs, largely.         But we appreciate it.  You've done a great job, Tara.  Thank you very much.  David, great job.  Would you like to say something, David?        SECRETARY BERNHARDT:  Well, I would say that, first off, Ambassador Pence has done an incredible job.  Thank you so much to the museum.  But none of this would have happened without your and the President of Finland's leadership.  And this is something, once again, that has been 70 years in the making, and you got it done.  So thank you so much, Mr. President.        THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I want to thank the President of Finland.  He's a friend of mine.  He's been great.  Everything you've ever needed, we've worked on very closely and gotten it done.  And so I just want to thank the President of Finland for making this possible.        Mr. Ambassador, would like to say something?        AMBASSADOR PENCE:  I would.  Thank you, Mr. President.  I too would like to thank the government of Finland and the museum team that’s been exceptionally dedicated to the seemingly simple, but very complex task.  Welcome to the new ambassador.  I'd also like to acknowledge Marie Royce, who’s the Assistant Secretary for Education and Cultural Affairs.         And most importantly, to the tribes; there are 26.  There were 4 repatriating tribes -- the Acoma, the Hopi, the Zia, and the Zunis -- who were designated to represent all of the tribes.         And lastly, I would like to say -- this is another commercial moment -- but without FinAir and American Airlines, who actually put on a bigger plane to get these 12 cartons of human remains and funerary objects on those planes, we would not have been able to pull this off.  So I thank them.  It's been a team effort.        And, sir, if I may, we have -- we put together a little book of the funerary objects for you.         THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, that’s very nice.  Thank you.        So it's human remains also, in addition to --        AMBASSADOR PENCE:  Yeah, there are human remains; probably 18 individuals -- 3 complete bodies, including one juvenile -- and various other remains.  And they have now been reinterred.  They were all reinterred on Sunday morning, sir.        THE PRESIDENT:  That’s fantastic.  That’s really great.  Well, thank you to the airlines very much.  I think maybe before I go to this side, I'll just say to the new ambassador who has only been here for about 35 minutes because he just -- (laughter) -- I just accepted his commission 35 minutes ago.  You worked very fast to pull off -- (laughter) -- in 35 minutes.  You are something.  Please.        AMBASSADOR HAUTALA:  Mr. President, thanks for the political support for this.  I think it's a historic occasion.  I think everybody acknowledges that.  I think most of the practical work has been done by our National Museum and by the tribes, with the great help of Ambassador Pence and your administration as well.  I think it's a great start, it's a great project, and we are happy.  And I'm also happy to pass your thank you for President Niinistö.  I think he will be delighted.        THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  Absolutely.  And it’s a great honor.  Thank you, and congratulations.  Congratulations to you both.        I'd like to hear from the tribes, please, if I could.        MR. JAMES:  So, Mr. President, on behalf of the tribes, but also, on behalf of the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, this is once again a historic accomplishment, and it wouldn’t have occurred without your leadership.  And the tribes extend their thank you to this administration, the government of Finland, and the State Department and the Department of Interior for making this historic occasion complete -- finally after 120 years, almost.        THE PRESIDENT:  That’s something.  Thank you very much.        MR. JAMES:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.        THE PRESIDENT:  Please.        MR. CRUZ:  Thank you, Mr. President, for your leadership.  Indian Country thanks you for your fearless leadership, and we’re doing everything we can to fulfill tribes’ requests.  And it’s an honor to serve.  Thank you.        THE PRESIDENT:  It’s a great honor.  You’ve done a great job.  Thank you very much.        Would you like to say something?        MS. ROYCE:  Thank you, Mr. President.  I just want to say, on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, how honored we are.  And working with you and your leadership on this repatriations for the Native Americans.         You mentioned the Acoma Shield.  Our office has been very actively engaged in making sure that got repatriated back, in addition to our efforts for the past few years, working with all the tribes.  Went out to Mesa Verde, and I want to let you know that it was an incredibly solemn and emotional moment.         But you, under your leadership, brought the Americans home.  And this is very important.  So I want to say thank you to all our stakeholders here in the room.  Again, thank you for this.  It’s one of the most important things that I’ve done in my position since I’ve come.        THE PRESIDENT:  Wow.  That’s a big statement.        MS. ROYCE:  It is.           THE PRESIDENT:  You’ve done some very important things.        MS. ROYCE:  Thank you.  Thank you, but you --        THE PRESIDENT:  That’s a big statement.        MS. ROYCE:  Thank you.  No, I mean that.        THE PRESIDENT:  How long have they been working on this from the beginning, from its original start?        MS. ROYCE:  Well, I think for at least 70 years.        THE PRESIDENT:  Seventy?        MS. ROYCE:  Yes.  Ambassador, could you share your comments on this?        AMBASSADOR PENCE:  When I arrived on post in ’18, there was a stack of letters dealing with this.  We elevated, to say the least.  We had meetings with Interior and State.  And so, really, went on all cylinders since about June of ’18 when everybody -- we got together with Interior and the tribes and the embassy and with the Finnish government.        So, full-court press, two and a half years from then until today.        THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, that’s great.  So from the time we started -- and it’s been 70 years in the making.  Seven-oh.        MS. ROYCE:  But, really, under your leadership, Mr. President, this has really gotten done.  So I want to say thank you.        THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you.  It’s such an honor.  Yeah, I heard the ceremony was incredible, actually.  It was very -- I heard it was very emotional, actually, for people.        Well, it’s an honor to have done this, and these are great people that have worked on it for a long time.  So I’m glad we got it done.  It took 70 years, but we got it done.  We get things done.  That’s one thing we do: We get them done.  We have a big list of accomplishments, but this is a very important one.  And to Indian Country, this is about as big as -- this is their number-one request.        So thank you all very much.  Congratulations, and thank you very much.  I’ll be seeing you later.  Thank you.                                END            12:32 P.M. EDT