中国认知作战研究中心： 特朗普总统首次国会联合会议演讲摘要

摘要： 在特朗普总统首次向国会联合会议发表的讲话中，他强调了美国的复兴、强大以及团结的重要性。他提出了多个政策议题，包括加强美国的经济、重建基础设施、减少法规、提供更多就业机会、强化边境安全、解决移民问题、改革医疗体系以及增强国防力量。特朗普还呼吁两党合作，以实现教育改革、打击犯罪、减少贫困，并提升美国人民的整体福祉。他明确表示，美国要以公民为优先，恢复法治和边界完整，以确保国家的未来更加安全、繁荣和强大。

关键词： 特朗普总统,国会联合会议,美国复兴,经济改革,基础设施,移民改革,医疗改革,边境安全,教育改革,国家安全,法治

中文翻译：

以下是唐纳德·特朗普总统首次向国会联合会议发表的讲话，内容为准备稿，由白宫发布。

致美国国会：

尊敬的议长、尊敬的副总统、国会议员、美国的第一夫人以及全体美国公民：

今晚，随着我们庆祝黑人历史月的结束，我们被提醒了我们国家走向民权的道路和仍需努力的地方。最近针对犹太社区中心的威胁以及犹太墓地的破坏行为，还有上周在堪萨斯城发生的枪击事件，都提醒我们，尽管我们在政策上可能存在分歧，但我们是一个在谴责所有形式的仇恨和邪恶时团结一致的国家。

每一代美国人都传承着真理、自由和正义的火炬——这一火炬通过不间断的链条，延续到了今天。

今天，这个火炬在我们手中。我们将用它照亮世界。我今晚来到这里，是为了传递一个团结和力量的信息，这个信息是我内心深处发出的。

美国伟大新篇章的序幕已经开启。

一种新的国家自豪感正在席卷我们的国土。

一种新的乐观情绪正在让那些看似不可能的梦想触手可及。

我们今天所见到的，是美国精神的复兴。

我们的盟友会发现美国再次准备好领导世界。

世界各国——无论是朋友还是敌人——都会发现，美国强大、美国自豪、美国自由。

在9年后，美国将迎来建国250周年——距离我们宣布独立的那一天已经过去250年。

那将是世界历史上一个伟大的里程碑。

但是，当我们迎接美国建国250周年时，美国将是什么样子？我们将为我们的孩子们留下一个什么样的国家？

我不会让过去几十年犯下的错误定义我们未来的道路。

太久以来，我们看着中产阶级萎缩，而我们把工作和财富外流到外国。

我们为一个又一个全球项目提供资金并将其建设，但却忽视了我们孩子们在芝加哥、巴尔的摩、底特律——以及我们国家许多其他地方的命运。

我们保卫其他国家的边界，却把我们自己的边界敞开，任人跨越——让毒品以前所未有的速度涌入。

我们花费数万亿美元在海外，而国内的基础设施却已经严重衰败。

然后，在2016年，地球在我们脚下发生了剧变。起初，这场叛乱只是一个安静的抗议，由各种肤色和信仰的家庭发起——他们只希望给自己的孩子一个公平的机会，并得到对他们关注的公平听取。

但这些安静的声音变成了一个响亮的合唱——成千上万的公民从大小城市站出来，齐声呼喊。

最终，这个合唱变成了一场地震——人民成群结队地涌出，数千万民众走上街头，他们团结在一个非常简单，但至关重要的要求之下——美国必须把自己的公民放在第一位……因为只有这样，我们才能真正让美国再次伟大。

即将衰退的产业将焕发新生。英勇的退伍军人将得到他们急需的照顾。

我们的军队将得到它那些勇敢战士应得的资源。

破旧的基础设施将被新道路、桥梁、隧道、机场和铁路所取代，遍布我们美丽的土地。

我们可怕的毒品流行将放缓，并最终停止。

我们被忽视的内城区将迎来希望、安全和机遇的重生。

最重要的是，我们将兑现对美国人民的承诺。

自从我上任以来已经一个多月了，我想借此机会向全国更新我在履行这些承诺方面取得的进展。

自从我当选以来，福特、菲亚特-克莱斯勒、通用汽车、Sprint、软银、洛克希德、英特尔、沃尔玛等公司宣布将在美国投资数十亿美元，并创造数万个新的美国就业岗位。

自选举以来，股市市值已经增加了近三万亿美元，创下纪录。我们通过降低新款F-35战斗机的价格，节省了数亿纳税人资金，并将在整个政府的合同中节省更多的资金。我们已经对非军事和非必要的联邦工作人员实施了招聘冻结。

我们已经开始清除政府腐败的“沼泽”，通过对行政部门官员实施5年的游说禁令——以及对成为外国政府游说者的终身禁令。

我们还开始了一项历史性的努力，旨在大幅减少压制就业的法规，在每个政府部门内部设立了去监管任务小组；制定了一项新规，要求每新增一项新法规，必须废除两项旧法规；并停止了一项威胁到我们伟大煤矿工人未来的法规。

我们已为建造Keystone和Dakota Access输油管道扫清了道路——从而创造了数万个就业岗位——我还发布了一项新的指令，要求所有新的美国管道都必须使用美国钢材。

我们已经撤回了美国在跨太平洋伙伴关系中的承诺，终结了这项损害就业的协议。

在加拿大总理贾斯廷·特鲁多的帮助下，我们已与加拿大邻国建立了一个委员会，帮助确保女性企业家能够获得启动企业所需的网络、市场和资本，追求她们的财务梦想。

为了保护我们的公民，我已指示司法部成立减少暴力犯罪的工作组。

我还命令国土安全部、司法部、国务院和国家情报总监协调一项积极的战略，打击蔓延到我们国家的犯罪集团。

我们将阻止毒品进入我们的国家，毒害我们的年轻人——同时，我们将扩大对那些已经上瘾者的治疗。

与此同时，我的政府已经响应了美国人民关于移民执法和边境安全的呼声。通过最终执行我们的移民法律，我们将提高工资、帮助失业者、节省数十亿美元，并为每个人创造更安全的社区。我们希望所有美国人都能成功——但在一个无法无天的环境中，这不可能发生。我们必须恢复边境的诚信和法治。

因此，我们很快将开始在我们的南部边境建设一座伟大的边境墙。建设将在预定时间前启动，完工后，它将成为打击毒品和犯罪的有效武器。

就在此刻，我们正在清除那些威胁我们社区和侵害我们公民的帮派成员、毒贩和罪犯。那些坏人正在被清除，正如我今晚所承诺的那样。

对于那些不相信我们应该执行法律的国会议员，我想问你们这个问题：你们会对那些因美国未能维护法律和保卫边境而失去工作、收入或亲人的美国家庭说些什么？

我们的责任是服务、保护和捍卫美国公民的利益。我们还将采取强有力的措施来保护我们的国家免受极端伊斯兰恐怖主义的威胁。

根据司法部提供的数据，自911事件以来，大多数因恐怖主义相关罪行被定罪的人都来自美国之外。我们已经看到了国内的袭击——从波士顿到圣贝纳迪诺，再到五角大楼，当然还有世界贸易中心。

我们还看到了法国、比利时、德国等国家的袭击事件，以及世界各地的恐怖活动。

允许从无法进行适当审查的地方入境并非充满同情，而是鲁莽。那些被荣幸地接纳进入美国的人，应该支持这个国家，热爱这个国家，热爱它的人民和价值观。

我们不能允许恐怖主义在美国生根发芽——我们不能让我们的国家成为极端分子的避难所。

如承诺的那样，我已经指示国防部制定一个计划，摧毁ISIS——这个非法暴力的网络，曾经屠杀过穆斯林、基督徒以及各类信仰和宗教的男女老少。我们将与我们的盟友，包括我们在穆斯林世界的朋友和伙伴，携手消灭这一可憎的敌人。

我还对支持伊朗弹道导弹计划的实体和个人实施了新的制裁，并重申了我们与以色列的牢固联盟。

最后，我履行了我任命一位美国最高法院法官的承诺——我从我的20位法官名单中选出了一位将捍卫我们宪法的人。我很荣幸今晚有莫琳·斯卡利亚女士和我们一起。她已故的伟大丈夫安东宁·斯卡利亚将永远是美国司法的象征。为了填补他的空缺，我们选择了尼尔·戈苏奇法官，一位才华横溢、对法律有着深刻忠诚的男子。他在上诉法院的确认得到了全体一致通过，我要求参议院迅速批准他的提名。

今晚，当我概述我们作为国家必须采取的下一步时，我们必须诚实地承认我们所继承的局势。

有9400万美国人不在劳动大军中。

超过4300万人生活在贫困中，超过4300万美国人依赖食品券。

20多岁到中年最富有生产力的美国人中，有五分之一没有工作。

我们经历了65年来最糟糕的金融复苏。

在过去8年里，前政府新增的债务几乎超过了所有其他总统的债务总和。

自北美自由贸易协定（NAFTA）通过以来，我们失去了四分之一的制造业工作，自中国加入世界贸易组织以来，我们失去了60,000家工厂。

去年我们与世界的商品贸易赤字接近8000亿美元。

在海外，我们继承了一系列悲惨的外交政策灾难。

解决这些问题，和许多其他紧迫的问题，将要求我们超越党派的分歧。它将要求我们挖掘美国精神，这种精神已经克服了我们漫长历史中的每一个挑战。

但要实现我们在国内外的目标，我们必须重新启动美国经济的引擎——让公司在美国做生意变得更容易，让公司离开变得更加困难。

目前，美国公司所面临的税率是世界上最高的之一。

我的经济团队正在制定历史性的税制改革，将减少我们公司税负，让他们能够在全球任何地方竞争和繁荣。同时，我们将为中产阶级提供大规模的减税。

我们必须为美国公司和工人创造一个公平的竞争环境。

目前，当我们将产品出口到美国时，许多其他国家对我们的商品征收非常高的关税和税费——但当外国公司将产品运入美国时，我们几乎不收税。

我刚刚与一家伟大的美国公司——哈雷-戴维森的高层和员工会面。事实上，他们骄傲地在白宫前草坪展示了五辆他们制造的出色摩托车。

在会议上，我问他们怎么样，生意如何？他们说得很好。我进一步问他们与其他国家的生意如何。他们告诉我——甚至没有抱怨，因为他们已经习惯了这些不公平待遇——说在与其他国家做生意时非常困难，因为他们的商品被征收如此高的税费。甚至在某个国家，他们的摩托车税率高达100%。

他们甚至没有要求改变。但我要求。

我坚信自由贸易，但它必须是公平贸易。

第一任共和党总统亚伯拉罕·林肯曾警告过，“美国政府放弃保护政策将使我们的人民陷入贫困和毁灭。”

林肯是对的——是时候听从他的教诲了。我不会让美国及其伟大的公司和工人再被他人利用。

我要带回数百万个工作岗位。保护我们的工人也意味着改革我们的合法移民系统。当前过时的系统压低了最贫困工人的工资，给纳税人带来了巨大的压力。

世界各国，如加拿大、澳大利亚等，都实行基于技能的移民系统。这是一个基本原则——那些寻求进入一个国家的人应该能够自给自足。然而，在美国，我们并未执行这一规则，给最贫困的公民带来了巨大压力。根据美国国家科学院的数据，我们目前的移民系统每年给美国纳税人带来数十亿美元的费用。

摆脱当前的低技能移民系统，转而采用基于技能的移民系统，将带来许多好处：它将节省无数美元，提升工人的工资，帮助处于困境中的家庭——包括移民家庭——进入中产阶级。

我相信，只要我们关注美国公民的福祉，真正积极的移民改革是可能的，民主党和共和党可以在这个问题上达成共识，解决我们国家几十年来未能解决的问题。

另一位共和党总统德怀特·D·艾森豪威尔启动了上一次真正伟大的国家基础设施项目——即建设州际公路系统。现在是时候发起新的国家重建计划了。

美国已经在中东花费了大约六万亿美元，而我们的基础设施却在国内崩溃。用这六万亿美元，我们本可以重建我们的国家——两次。甚至三次，如果我们有能力进行谈判的人。

为了启动我们的国家重建计划，我将要求国会批准一项法律，通过公共和私营资本的融资，投入1万亿美元用于美国基础设施建设——创造数百万个新就业岗位。

这一努力将以两个核心原则为指导：购买美国制造，雇佣美国工人。

今晚，我还呼吁国会废除并取代奥巴马医改，进行改革，扩大选择，增加可及性，降低成本，同时提供更好的医疗保障。

强制每个美国人购买政府批准的健康保险，从来就不是美国的正确解决方案。让每个人都能获得医保的方法是降低健康保险的成本，这就是我们将要做的。

全国范围内，奥巴马医改的保费上涨了两倍、三倍。比如，亚利桑那州去年就上涨了116%。肯塔基州州长马特·贝文刚刚表示，奥巴马医改在他的州失败了——它是不可持续的，正在崩溃。

三分之一的县在医保交换平台上只有一家保险公司——许多美国人根本没有选择。

你还记得你们被告知可以保留医生和健康保险计划吗？

我们现在知道，那些承诺都已经破灭。

奥巴马医改正在崩溃——我们必须果断采取行动，保护所有美国人。采取行动不是选择，而是必要的。

因此，我呼吁国会的所有民主党和共和党议员与我们合作，拯救美国人脱离奥巴马医改的灾难。

以下是国会在我们推进更好健康保障体系时应遵循的原则：

首先，我们应确保患有先天性疾病的美国人能够获得保险覆盖，并确保目前已加入医保交换平台的美国人能够平稳过渡。

其次，我们应帮助美国人通过税收抵免和扩展的健康储蓄账户购买自己的保险——但它必须是他们自己想要的计划，而不是政府强加给他们的计划。

第三，我们应当为伟大的州长们提供所需的资源和灵活性，确保没有人被排除在外。

第四，我们应当实施法律改革，保护患者和医生免受不必要的成本，推动医疗保险费用的下降，并立即降价药物。

最后，是时候让美国人有自由选择跨州购买健康保险——创造一个真正竞争的全国市场，这将大幅降低成本并提供更好的护理。

我们国家一切破碎的东西都可以修复。每一个问题都可以解决。每一个痛苦的家庭都可以找到疗愈与希望。

我们的公民应得这些，甚至更多——那么，为什么不联手把这一切实现呢？在这方面以及许多其他问题上，民主党和共和党应当团结起来，为国家、为美国人民谋福利。

我的政府希望与两党成员合作，确保儿童保育的可及性和负担得起，帮助确保新父母可以享受带薪家庭假期，投资于女性健康，促进清洁空气和清澈的水源，并重建我们的军队和基础设施。

真正的爱国心要求我们找到共同点，推进共同利益，并为每一个应得美好未来的美国孩子而合作。

今晚，我们有一位了不起的年轻女性，她的故事应该激励我们所有人。

今天是罕见病日，加入我们的是一位罕见病幸存者——梅根·克劳利。梅根在15个月大时被诊断为庞贝病，这是一种罕见且严重的疾病。当时她的医生认为她活不过五岁。

在接到这个消息时，梅根的父亲约翰竭尽全力去挽救他宝贵的孩子的生命。他成立了一家公司寻找治愈的方法，并帮助研发出拯救梅根生命的药物。如今，她20岁，正在诺特丹大学读大二。

梅根的故事展现了父爱的无边力量。

然而，我们在美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）繁琐的审批过程中，阻止了许多像救命药物这样的进步成果到达急需的人群。

如果我们削减这些约束，不仅仅在FDA，而是在整个政府，那么我们将会迎来更多像梅根一样的奇迹。

实际上，我们的孩子将在一个充满奇迹的国家成长。

但要实现这样的未来，我们必须丰富每一个美国孩子的头脑——并丰富每一个美国孩子的灵魂。

教育是我们时代的民权问题。

我呼吁两党的议员通过一项教育法案，为贫困青少年提供学校选择，包括数百万非洲裔美国人和拉丁裔儿童。这些家庭应该自由选择适合他们的公立学校、私立学校、特许学校、磁性学校、宗教学校或家庭学校。

今晚，加入我们的是一位非凡的女性——丹妮莎·梅里威瑟。作为一个年轻女孩，丹妮莎在学校里很困难，还两次没通过三年级。然而，在税收抵免奖学金计划的帮助下，她能够入读一所私立学习中心。今天，她是家族中第一个从高中毕业的人，不仅如此，她还从大学毕业。今年晚些时候，她将获得社会工作硕士学位。

我们希望所有孩子都能像丹妮莎一样打破贫困的循环。

但是，要打破贫困的循环，我们还必须打破暴力的循环。

2015年，谋杀率经历了近半个世纪以来的最大单年增长。

仅在芝加哥，去年就有超过4000人被枪击——而今年的谋杀率甚至更高。

这种情况在我们的社会中是不可接受的。

每一个美国孩子都应该能够在一个安全的社区长大，接受良好的教育，并能拥有一份高薪工作。

但要创造这样的未来，我们必须与执法人员合作——而不是与他们对立。

我们必须建立合作与信任的桥梁，而不是制造分裂和对立。

警察和警长是我们社区的一员。他们是我们的朋友、邻居，他们是父母、子女——他们每天都离开家，担心自己是否能平安归来。

我们必须支持那些英勇的执法人员。

我们还必须支持犯罪的受害者。

我已经命令国土安全部创建一个服务美国受害者的办公室。这个办公室叫做VOICE——移民犯罪受害者参与办公室。我们为那些被媒体忽视、被特殊利益群体沉默的人提供声音。

今晚，观众中有四位勇敢的美国人，他们的政府辜负了他们。

他们的名字是贾米尔·肖、苏珊·奥利弗、杰娜·奥利弗和杰西卡·戴维斯。

贾米尔的17岁儿子在一名非法移民帮派成员的残忍谋杀中丧生，该嫌疑人刚刚从监狱获释。贾米尔·肖·朱尼尔是一个非常出色的年轻人，拥有无限潜力，他本打算去大学，在那儿他将成为一名出色的四分卫。但他永远没有机会。他的父亲，今晚在场，已经成为我的好朋友。

和我们在一起的还有苏珊·奥利弗和杰西卡·戴维斯。她们的丈夫——副警长丹尼·奥利弗和侦探迈克尔·戴维斯——在加利福尼亚执行职务时被残忍枪杀。这两位英雄人物是社区的支柱。他们在执行公务时被一名有犯罪记录并且两次被驱逐出境的非法移民枪杀。

和苏珊一起的是她的女儿，杰娜。杰娜：我要告诉你，你的父亲是英雄，今晚你有整个国家的爱和支持，大家都在为你祈祷。

对贾米尔、杰娜、苏珊和杰西卡：我要告诉你们——我们永远不会停止为正义而战。你们的亲人永远不会被遗忘，我们将永远铭记他们的记忆。

最后，为了确保美国的安全，我们必须为美国的军人提供他们所需要的工具，防止战争，并——如果必须——去战斗并取得胜利。

我将向国会提交一份预算案，重建军队，消除国防制裁，并要求增加美国历史上最大的国防支出。

我的预算还将增加对退伍军人的资金支持。

我们的退伍军人为这个国家做出了巨大贡献——现在，我们必须为他们做出贡献。

我们面临的挑战是巨大的。但我们的人民更加伟大。

而那些为美国而战的人中，没有比他们更伟大或更勇敢的。

今晚我们有幸与我们一起的是卡林·欧文斯，美国海军特种作战部队高级军士威廉“瑞安”欧文斯的遗孀。瑞安在他为国家战斗的过程中献出了生命——他是一位英雄——与恐怖主义作斗争，为我们的国家赢得了胜利。

我刚刚和马蒂斯将军通话，他再次确认，“瑞安参与了一次非常成功的突袭，产生了大量重要情报，将为我们未来击败敌人取得更多胜利。”瑞安的遗产永载史册。正如圣经所教导的那样，为朋友舍命是最大的爱。瑞安为他的朋友、为他的国家、为我们的自由献出了生命——我们永远不会忘记他。

对于那些担心美国将成为怎样的朋友的盟友，不必再问，看看穿上我们制服的英雄。

我们的外交政策要求直接、强大且有意义的全球参与。它是基于我们与全球盟友分享的重要安全利益的美国领导力。

我们坚定支持北约，一个在两次世界大战中建立的联盟，推翻了法西斯主义，在冷战中击败了共产主义。

但我们的伙伴必须履行他们的财政义务。

现在，根据我们强烈而坦率的讨论，他们开始履行这些义务。

我们期望我们的伙伴——无论是北约成员国、中东国家，还是太平洋地区——在战略和军事行动中扮演直接和有意义的角色，并支付他们应负的费用。

我们会尊重历史性机构，但我们也会尊重各国的主权权利。

自由国家是表达人民意志的最佳途径——美国尊重所有国家选择自己道路的权利。我的工作不是代表世界。我的工作是代表美利坚合众国。但我们知道，当世界发生冲突时，美国会更好。

我们必须从过去的错误中吸取教训——我们见证了全球范围内的战争和毁灭。

这些人道主义灾难的唯一长期解决方案是创造条件，让流离失所的人能够安全返回家园，开始漫长的重建过程。

美国愿意寻找新朋友，建立新伙伴关系，在共同利益对接的地方展开合作。我们希望实现和谐与稳定，而不是战争与冲突。

我们希望和平，无论在哪里能找到和平。今天的美国与过去曾是敌国的国家建立了紧密的盟友关系。我们的许多亲密盟友，几十年前曾站在世界大战的对立面。这个历史应该让我们每个人对更美好的世界充满信心。

希望美国的250周年庆典能够见证一个更加和平、公正、自由的世界。

在美国建国100周年时，1876年，来自全国各地的公民齐聚费城，庆祝美国的百年华诞。在那个庆典上，国家的建设者、艺术家和发明家展示了他们的创作。

亚历山大·格雷厄姆·贝尔首次展示了他的电话。

雷明顿公司展示了第一台打字机。电灯的早期尝试也在此展示。

托马斯·爱迪生展示了自动电报和电动钢笔。

想象一下，我们的国家在美国建国250周年时，将会有什么奇迹。

想想如果我们把人民的梦想释放出来，我们能创造出多少奇迹。

治愈那些长期困扰我们的疾病，不再是遥不可及的梦想。

美国的足迹可以遍布远方的星球，不再是无法想象的事情。

数百万人从福利中走向工作不再是难以企及的目标。

街道上，母亲们可以安然无忧——学校里，孩子们能在和平中学习——工作中，美国人可以繁荣发展——这些，难道是太多的要求吗？

当我们实现这些，我们将使美国变得比以往任何时候都伟大。为所有美国人。

这是我们的愿景。这是我们的使命。

但我们只能一起实现这一切。

我们是一国一民，拥有同一个命运。

我们都流着相同的血液。

我们都向相同的国旗致敬。

我们都是由同一个上帝创造的。

当我们实现这一愿景时；当我们庆祝美国250年的辉煌自由时，我们将回顾今晚，视为美国伟大新篇章的开始。

小气的时代已经结束。琐碎争斗的时代已经过去。

我们只需要勇气去分享我们心中充满的梦想。

勇气去表达我们内心激动的希望。

自信地将这些希望和梦想转化为行动。

从今以后，美国将由我们的抱负赋能，而不是由我们的恐惧所拖累——我们将由未来的希望激励，而不是被过去的失败所束缚——我们将由我们的远见引导，而不是被我们的疑虑所蒙蔽。

我呼吁所有公民拥抱这一美国精神的复兴。我呼吁国会所有成员与我一起，为我们的国家做出大胆的、具有远大目标的贡献。我还呼吁今晚观看的人抓住这个时刻——

相信自己。

相信你的未来。

并且，再次相信美国。

谢谢大家，愿上帝保佑你们，愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。

英文原文：

Below is President Donald Trump’s first-ever address to a joint session of Congress, delivered Tuesday night, as prepared for delivery and released by the White House.

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States, and Citizens of America:

Tonight, as we mark the conclusion of our celebration of Black History Month, we are reminded of our Nation’s path toward civil rights and the work that still remains. Recent threats targeting Jewish Community Centers and vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, as well as last week’s shooting in Kansas City, remind us that while we may be a Nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms.

Each American generation passes the torch of truth, liberty and justice — in an unbroken chain all the way down to the present.

That torch is now in our hands. And we will use it to light up the world. I am here tonight to deliver a message of unity and strength, and it is a message deeply delivered from my heart.

A new chapter of American Greatness is now beginning.

A new national pride is sweeping across our Nation.

And a new surge of optimism is placing impossible dreams firmly within our grasp.

What we are witnessing today is the Renewal of the American Spirit.

Our allies will find that America is once again ready to lead.

All the nations of the world — friend or foe — will find that America is strong, America is proud, and America is free.

In 9 years, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our founding — 250 years since the day we declared our Independence.

It will be one of the great milestones in the history of the world.

But what will America look like as we reach our 250th year? What kind of country will we leave for our children?

I will not allow the mistakes of recent decades past to define the course of our future.

For too long, we’ve watched our middle class shrink as we’ve exported our jobs and wealth to foreign countries.

We’ve financed and built one global project after another, but ignored the fates of our children in the inner cities of Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit — and so many other places throughout our land.

We’ve defended the borders of other nations, while leaving our own borders wide open, for anyone to cross — and for drugs to pour in at a now unprecedented rate.

And we’ve spent trillions of dollars overseas, while our infrastructure at home has so badly crumbled.

Then, in 2016, the earth shifted beneath our feet. The rebellion started as a quiet protest, spoken by families of all colors and creeds — families who just wanted a fair shot for their children, and a fair hearing for their concerns.

But then the quiet voices became a loud chorus — as thousands of citizens now spoke out together, from cities small and large, all across our country.

Finally, the chorus became an earthquake – and the people turned out by the tens of millions, and they were all united by one very simple, but crucial demand, that America must put its own citizens first … because only then, can we truly MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.

Dying industries will come roaring back to life. Heroic veterans will get the care they so desperately need.

Our military will be given the resources its brave warriors so richly deserve.

Crumbling infrastructure will be replaced with new roads, bridges, tunnels, airports and railways gleaming across our beautiful land.

Our terrible drug epidemic will slow down and ultimately, stop.

And our neglected inner cities will see a rebirth of hope, safety, and opportunity.

Above all else, we will keep our promises to the American people.

It’s been a little over a month since my inauguration, and I want to take this moment to update the Nation on the progress I’ve made in keeping those promises.

Since my election, Ford, Fiat-Chrysler, General Motors, Sprint, Softbank, Lockheed, Intel, Walmart, and many others, have announced that they will invest billions of dollars in the United States and will create tens of thousands of new American jobs.

The stock market has gained almost three trillion dollars in value since the election on November 8th, a record. We’ve saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars by bringing down the price of the fantastic new F-35 jet fighter, and will be saving billions more dollars on contracts all across our Government. We have placed a hiring freeze on non-military and non-essential Federal workers.

We have begun to drain the swamp of government corruption by imposing a 5 year ban on lobbying by executive branch officials — and a lifetime ban on becoming lobbyists for a foreign government.

We have undertaken a historic effort to massively reduce job-crushing regulations, creating a deregulation task force inside of every Government agency; imposing a new rule which mandates that for every 1 new regulation, 2 old regulations must be eliminated; and stopping a regulation that threatens the future and livelihoods of our great coal miners.

We have cleared the way for the construction of the Keystone and Dakota Access Pipelines — thereby creating tens of thousands of jobs — and I’ve issued a new directive that new American pipelines be made with American steel.

We have withdrawn the United States from the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership.

With the help of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, we have formed a Council with our neighbors in Canada to help ensure that women entrepreneurs have access to the networks, markets and capital they need to start a business and live out their financial dreams.

To protect our citizens, I have directed the Department of Justice to form a Task Force on Reducing Violent Crime.

I have further ordered the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, along with the Department of State and the Director of National Intelligence, to coordinate an aggressive strategy to dismantle the criminal cartels that have spread across our Nation.

We will stop the drugs from pouring into our country and poisoning our youth — and we will expand treatment for those who have become so badly addicted.

At the same time, my Administration has answered the pleas of the American people for immigration enforcement and border security. By finally enforcing our immigration laws, we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions of dollars, and make our communities safer for everyone. We want all Americans to succeed — but that can’t happen in an environment of lawless chaos. We must restore integrity and the rule of law to our borders.

For that reason, we will soon begin the construction of a great wall along our southern border. It will be started ahead of schedule and, when finished, it will be a very effective weapon against drugs and crime.

As we speak, we are removing gang members, drug dealers and criminals that threaten our communities and prey on our citizens. Bad ones are going out as I speak tonight and as I have promised.

To any in Congress who do not believe we should enforce our laws, I would ask you this question: what would you say to the American family that loses their jobs, their income, or a loved one, because America refused to uphold its laws and defend its borders?

Our obligation is to serve, protect, and defend the citizens of the United States. We are also taking strong measures to protect our Nation from Radical Islamic Terrorism.

According to data provided by the Department of Justice, the vast majority of individuals convicted for terrorism-related offenses since 9/11 came here from outside of our country. We have seen the attacks at home — from Boston to San Bernardino to the Pentagon and yes, even the World Trade Center.

We have seen the attacks in France, in Belgium, in Germany and all over the world.

It is not compassionate, but reckless, to allow uncontrolled entry from places where proper vetting cannot occur. Those given the high honor of admission to the United States should support this country and love its people and its values.

We cannot allow a beachhead of terrorism to form inside America — we cannot allow our Nation to become a sanctuary for extremists.

As promised, I directed the Department of Defense to develop a plan to demolish and destroy ISIS — a network of lawless savages that have slaughtered Muslims and Christians, and men, women, and children of all faiths and beliefs. We will work with our allies, including our friends and allies in the Muslim world, to extinguish this vile enemy from our planet.

I have also imposed new sanctions on entities and individuals who support Iran’s ballistic missile program, and reaffirmed our unbreakable alliance with the State of Israel.

Finally, I have kept my promise to appoint a Justice to the United States Supreme Court — from my list of 20 judges — who will defend our Constitution. I am honored to have Maureen Scalia with us in the gallery tonight. Her late, great husband, Antonin Scalia, will forever be a symbol of American justice. To fill his seat, we have chosen Judge Neil Gorsuch, a man of incredible skill, and deep devotion to the law. He was confirmed unanimously to the Court of Appeals, and I am asking the Senate to swiftly approve his nomination.

Tonight, as I outline the next steps we must take as a country, we must honestly acknowledge the circumstances we inherited.

Ninety-four million Americans are out of the labor force.

Over 43 million people are now living in poverty, and over 43 million Americans are on food stamps.

More than 1 in 5 people in their prime working years are not working.

We have the worst financial recovery in 65 years.

In the last 8 years, the past Administration has put on more new debt than nearly all other Presidents combined.

We’ve lost more than one-fourth of our manufacturing jobs since NAFTA was approved, and we’ve lost 60,000 factories since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001.

Our trade deficit in goods with the world last year was nearly $800 billion dollars.

And overseas, we have inherited a series of tragic foreign policy disasters.

Solving these, and so many other pressing problems, will require us to work past the differences of party. It will require us to tap into the American spirit that has overcome every challenge throughout our long and storied history.

But to accomplish our goals at home and abroad, we must restart the engine of the American economy — making it easier for companies to do business in the United States, and much harder for companies to leave.

Right now, American companies are taxed at one of the highest rates anywhere in the world.

My economic team is developing historic tax reform that will reduce the tax rate on our companies so they can compete and thrive anywhere and with anyone. At the same time, we will provide massive tax relief for the middle class.

We must create a level playing field for American companies and workers.

Currently, when we ship products out of America, many other countries make us pay very high tariffs and taxes — but when foreign companies ship their products into America, we charge them almost nothing.

I just met with officials and workers from a great American company, Harley-Davidson. In fact, they proudly displayed five of their magnificent motorcycles, made in the USA, on the front lawn of the White House.

At our meeting, I asked them, how are you doing, how is business? They said that it’s good. I asked them further how they are doing with other countries, mainly international sales. They told me — without even complaining because they have been mistreated for so long that they have become used to it — that it is very hard to do business with other countries because they tax our goods at such a high rate. They said that in one case another country taxed their motorcycles at 100 percent.

They weren’t even asking for change. But I am.

I believe strongly in free trade but it also has to be FAIR TRADE.

The first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, warned that the “abandonment of the protective policy by the American Government [will] produce want and ruin among our people.”

Lincoln was right — and it is time we heeded his words. I am not going to let America and its great companies and workers, be taken advantage of anymore.

I am going to bring back millions of jobs. Protecting our workers also means reforming our system of legal immigration. The current, outdated system depresses wages for our poorest workers, and puts great pressure on taxpayers.

Nations around the world, like Canada, Australia and many others — have a merit-based immigration system. It is a basic principle that those seeking to enter a country ought to be able to support themselves financially. Yet, in America, we do not enforce this rule, straining the very public resources that our poorest citizens rely upon. According to the National Academy of Sciences, our current immigration system costs America’s taxpayers many billions of dollars a year.

Switching away from this current system of lower-skilled immigration, and instead adopting a merit-based system, will have many benefits: it will save countless dollars, raise workers’ wages, and help struggling families — including immigrant families — enter the middle class.

I believe that real and positive immigration reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: to improve jobs and wages for Americans, to strengthen our nation’s security, and to restore respect for our laws.

If we are guided by the well-being of American citizens then I believe Republicans and Democrats can work together to achieve an outcome that has eluded our country for decades.

Another Republican President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, initiated the last truly great national infrastructure program — the building of the interstate highway system. The time has come for a new program of national rebuilding.

America has spent approximately six trillion dollars in the Middle East, all this while our infrastructure at home is crumbling. With this six trillion dollars we could have rebuilt our country — twice. And maybe even three times if we had people who had the ability to negotiate.

To launch our national rebuilding, I will be asking the Congress to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion investment in the infrastructure of the United States — financed through both public and private capital — creating millions of new jobs.

This effort will be guided by two core principles: Buy American, and Hire American.

Tonight, I am also calling on this Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare with reforms that expand choice, increase access, lower costs, and at the same time, provide better Healthcare.

Mandating every American to buy government-approved health insurance was never the right solution for America. The way to make health insurance available to everyone is to lower the cost of health insurance, and that is what we will do.

Obamacare premiums nationwide have increased by double and triple digits. As an example, Arizona went up 116 percent last year alone. Governor Matt Bevin of Kentucky just said Obamacare is failing in his State — it is unsustainable and collapsing.

One third of counties have only one insurer on the exchanges — leaving many Americans with no choice at all.

Remember when you were told that you could keep your doctor, and keep your plan?

We now know that all of those promises have been broken.

Obamacare is collapsing — and we must act decisively to protect all Americans. Action is not a choice — it is a necessity.

So I am calling on all Democrats and Republicans in the Congress to work with us to save Americans from this imploding Obamacare disaster.

Here are the principles that should guide the Congress as we move to create a better healthcare system for all Americans:

First, we should ensure that Americans with pre-existing conditions have access to coverage, and that we have a stable transition for Americans currently enrolled in the healthcare exchanges.

Secondly, we should help Americans purchase their own coverage, through the use of tax credits and expanded Health Savings Accounts — but it must be the plan they want, not the plan forced on them by the Government.

Thirdly, we should give our great State Governors the resources and flexibility they need with Medicaid to make sure no one is left out.

Fourthly, we should implement legal reforms that protect patients and doctors from unnecessary costs that drive up the price of insurance – and work to bring down the artificially high price of drugs and bring them down immediately.

Finally, the time has come to give Americans the freedom to purchase health insurance across State lines — creating a truly competitive national marketplace that will bring cost way down and provide far better care.

Everything that is broken in our country can be fixed. Every problem can be solved. And every hurting family can find healing, and hope.

Our citizens deserve this, and so much more — so why not join forces to finally get it done? On this and so many other things, Democrats and Republicans should get together and unite for the good of our country, and for the good of the American people.

My administration wants to work with members in both parties to make childcare accessible and affordable, to help ensure new parents have paid family leave, to invest in women’s health, and to promote clean air and clear water, and to rebuild our military and our infrastructure.

True love for our people requires us to find common ground, to advance the common good, and to cooperate on behalf of every American child who deserves a brighter future.

An incredible young woman is with us this evening who should serve as an inspiration to us all.

Today is Rare Disease day, and joining us in the gallery is a Rare Disease Survivor, Megan Crowley. Megan was diagnosed with Pompe Disease, a rare and serious illness, when she was 15 months old. She was not expected to live past 5.

On receiving this news, Megan’s dad, John, fought with everything he had to save the life of his precious child. He founded a company to look for a cure, and helped develop the drug that saved Megan’s life. Today she is 20 years old — and a sophomore at Notre Dame.

Megan’s story is about the unbounded power of a father’s love for a daughter.

But our slow and burdensome approval process at the Food and Drug Administration keeps too many advances, like the one that saved Megan’s life, from reaching those in need.

If we slash the restraints, not just at the FDA but across our Government, then we will be blessed with far more miracles like Megan.

In fact, our children will grow up in a Nation of miracles.

But to achieve this future, we must enrich the mind — and the souls — of every American child.

Education is the civil rights issue of our time.

I am calling upon Members of both parties to pass an education bill that funds school choice for disadvantaged youth, including millions of African-American and Latino children. These families should be free to choose the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school that is right for them.

Joining us tonight in the gallery is a remarkable woman, Denisha Merriweather. As a young girl, Denisha struggled in school and failed third grade twice. But then she was able to enroll in a private center for learning, with the help of a tax credit scholarship program. Today, she is the first in her family to graduate, not just from high school, but from college. Later this year she will get her masters degree in social work.

We want all children to be able to break the cycle of poverty just like Denisha.

But to break the cycle of poverty, we must also break the cycle of violence.

The murder rate in 2015 experienced its largest single-year increase in nearly half a century.

In Chicago, more than 4,000 people were shot last year alone — and the murder rate so far this year has been even higher.

This is not acceptable in our society.

Every American child should be able to grow up in a safe community, to attend a great school, and to have access to a high-paying job.

But to create this future, we must work with — not against — the men and women of law enforcement.

We must build bridges of cooperation and trust — not drive the wedge of disunity and division.

Police and sheriffs are members of our community. They are friends and neighbors, they are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters – and they leave behind loved ones every day who worry whether or not they’ll come home safe and sound.

We must support the incredible men and women of law enforcement.

And we must support the victims of crime.

I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office to serve American Victims. The office is called VOICE — Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement. We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests.

Joining us in the audience tonight are four very brave Americans whose government failed them.

Their names are Jamiel Shaw, Susan Oliver, Jenna Oliver, and Jessica Davis.

Jamiel’s 17-year-old son was viciously murdered by an illegal immigrant gang member, who had just been released from prison. Jamiel Shaw Jr. was an incredible young man, with unlimited potential who was getting ready to go to college where he would have excelled as a great quarterback. But he never got the chance. His father, who is in the audience tonight, has become a good friend of mine.

Also with us are Susan Oliver and Jessica Davis. Their husbands — Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver and Detective Michael Davis — were slain in the line of duty in California. They were pillars of their community. These brave men were viciously gunned down by an illegal immigrant with a criminal record and two prior deportations.

Sitting with Susan is her daughter, Jenna. Jenna: I want you to know that your father was a hero, and that tonight you have the love of an entire country supporting you and praying for you.

To Jamiel, Jenna, Susan and Jessica: I want you to know — we will never stop fighting for justice. Your loved ones will never be forgotten, we will always honor their memory.

Finally, to keep America Safe we must provide the men and women of the United States military with the tools they need to prevent war and — if they must — to fight and to win.

I am sending the Congress a budget that rebuilds the military, eliminates the Defense sequester, and calls for one of the largest increases in national defense spending in American history.

My budget will also increase funding for our veterans.

Our veterans have delivered for this Nation — and now we must deliver for them.

The challenges we face as a Nation are great. But our people are even greater.

And none are greater or braver than those who fight for America in uniform.

We are blessed to be joined tonight by Carryn Owens, the widow of a U.S. Navy Special Operator, Senior Chief William “Ryan” Owens. Ryan died as he lived: a warrior, and a hero — battling against terrorism and securing our Nation.

I just spoke to General Mattis, who reconfirmed that, and I quote, “Ryan was a part of a highly successful raid that generated large amounts of vital intelligence that will lead to many more victories in the future against our enemies.” Ryan’s legacy is etched into eternity. For as the Bible teaches us, there is no greater act of love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Ryan laid down his life for his friends, for his country, and for our freedom — we will never forget him.

To those allies who wonder what kind of friend America will be, look no further than the heroes who wear our uniform.

Our foreign policy calls for a direct, robust and meaningful engagement with the world. It is American leadership based on vital security interests that we share with our allies across the globe.

We strongly support NATO, an alliance forged through the bonds of two World Wars that dethroned fascism, and a Cold War that defeated communism.

But our partners must meet their financial obligations.

And now, based on our very strong and frank discussions, they are beginning to do just that.

We expect our partners, whether in NATO, in the Middle East, or the Pacific — to take a direct and meaningful role in both strategic and military operations, and pay their fair share of the cost.

We will respect historic institutions, but we will also respect the sovereign rights of nations.

Free nations are the best vehicle for expressing the will of the people — and America respects the right of all nations to chart their own path. My job is not to represent the world. My job is to represent the United States of America. But we know that America is better off, when there is less conflict — not more.

We must learn from the mistakes of the past — we have seen the war and destruction that have raged across our world.

The only long-term solution for these humanitarian disasters is to create the conditions where displaced persons can safely return home and begin the long process of rebuilding.

America is willing to find new friends, and to forge new partnerships, where shared interests align. We want harmony and stability, not war and conflict.

We want peace, wherever peace can be found. America is friends today with former enemies. Some of our closest allies, decades ago, fought on the opposite side of these World Wars. This history should give us all faith in the possibilities for a better world.

Hopefully, the 250th year for America will see a world that is more peaceful, more just and more free.

On our 100th anniversary, in 1876, citizens from across our Nation came to Philadelphia to celebrate America’s centennial. At that celebration, the country’s builders and artists and inventors showed off their creations.

Alexander Graham Bell displayed his telephone for the first time.

Remington unveiled the first typewriter. An early attempt was made at electric light.

Thomas Edison showed an automatic telegraph and an electric pen.

Imagine the wonders our country could know in America’s 250th year.

Think of the marvels we can achieve if we simply set free the dreams of our people.

Cures to illnesses that have always plagued us are not too much to hope.

American footprints on distant worlds are not too big a dream.

Millions lifted from welfare to work is not too much to expect.

And streets where mothers are safe from fear — schools where children learn in peace — and jobs where Americans prosper and grow — are not too much to ask.

When we have all of this, we will have made America greater than ever before. For all Americans.

This is our vision. This is our mission.

But we can only get there together.

We are one people, with one destiny.

We all bleed the same blood.

We all salute the same flag.

And we are all made by the same God.

And when we fulfill this vision; when we celebrate our 250 years of glorious freedom, we will look back on tonight as when this new chapter of American Greatness began.

The time for small thinking is over. The time for trivial fights is behind us.

We just need the courage to share the dreams that fill our hearts.

The bravery to express the hopes that stir our souls.

And the confidence to turn those hopes and dreams to action.

From now on, America will be empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by our fears — inspired by the future, not bound by the failures of the past — and guided by our vision, not blinded by our doubts.

I am asking all citizens to embrace this Renewal of the American Spirit. I am asking all members of Congress to join me in dreaming big, and bold and daring things for our country. And I am asking everyone watching tonight to seize this moment and —

Believe in yourselves.

Believe in your future.

And believe, once more, in America.

Thank you, God bless you, and God Bless these United States.