Attended by families of the dead, Donald Trump declared he had “everything” at a Memorial Day celebration.
After honoring the sacrifice of slain troops, the US president—seemingly straying from his prepared remarks—said he was looking forward hosting the Olympics, World Cup, and a military parade during his second term. Arlington National Cemetery was the venue.
Though it will also occur on Mr Trump’s 79th birthday, the procession across Washington, DC on June 14 is meant to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US army.
Declaring the occasion to be a “big, big celebration,” Mr. Trump further remarked: “I’m glad I missed that second term when it was since I wouldn’t be your president.”
“In addition, we have the World Cup and we have the Olympics,” the president said to the applaudingly receptive audience at Arlington National Amphitheatre.
Could you picture me missing four years? And now see what I have; everything is fantastic the way things turn out.
Mr Trump also attacked “unchecked” migration under former President Joe Biden and earlier on Monday wished a “Happy Memorial Day to all, including the scum that spent the last four years trying to destroy our country.”
During his speech, Obama highlighted a number of Gold Star Families—whose members perished in battle—and commended the “immortal deeds” of “American warriors.”
“Let me say your mum was a hero and her love, her strength, and her spirit are always with us and always with you,” he told two small boys whose mother, navy officer Shannon Kent, was killed by a suicide bomber in Syria six years ago.
The address takes place amid conflict between Vladimir Putin and the Trump government over the continuous war in Ukraine.
Mr Trump attacked Mr Putin on Sunday, calling the Russian president “crazy” for starting extensive midnight drone and missile strikes across the weekend.
Russia responded to the remarks by implying that Mr. Trump suffers from “emotional overload,” therefore deflecting his criticism.
Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, declared during the Memorial Day event that the US has to be “prepared for war”.
He remarked: “We must be ready for conflict since we aim for peace. We shall never be complacent on behalf of those who have given so much. We owe these guys nothing less.
Mr Hegseth and Mr Vance, who both spoke at the ceremony, flanked Mr Trump.
With his own comments, the vice-president took a different approach: stating, “treat the lives of our troops as the most precious resource” to a round of applause.
“The very best way to honor the fallen, is to only ask the next generation to make the ultimate sacrifice when they absolutely must,” he said. Sending our people to battle calls for great care.
05:54 PM BST
This is all for now.
We appreciate you following our Memorial Day coverage of Donald Trump’s presidential address. Closed now is this live blog.
BST 05:28 PM
DC military parade will be a great celebration.
Referring to a military parade in Washington, DC on June 14, Donald Trump states there would be a “big, big celebration” to honor the sacrifice of American soldiers.
He adds he “glad I missed that second term… since I wouldn’t be your president.”
Designed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the US army, the procession also falls on the birthday of Mr Trump.
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Donald Trump honors Shannon Kent.
Donald Trump is honoring several dead troops with family members in attendance.
Six years ago, a suicide bomber killed Shannon Kent, a senior chief petty officer in the Navy, leaving behind a husband and two young boys, he says.
“Let me say your mother was a hero; her love, strength, and spirit are always with us and with you. Her lads were cherished.
06:20 PM BST
Trump: US will “be greater than ever”
Donald Trump says, “The greatest monument to the sacrifice of US soldiers is an American nation, 325 million strong, which will soon be greater than it has ever been.”
He introduces the man’s son and grandson in attendance at Arlington and chronicles the death of a 24-year-old airman slain during the Vietnam War called Elroy Harworth.
” Great family,” Mr. Trump said.
2005:17 PM BST
Trump attacks “unchecked” immigration during speech
Donald Trump honours the “immortal deeds” of “American warriors”.
In the life of all those who love them, he adds they left “unfillable void and an unbreakable silence”.
“This Memorial Day is especially significant as we commemorate 250 years since the first American patriots field on the field of battle, two and a half centuries ago at Lexington Green, Concord Bridge, Bunker Hill,” Mr Trump said.
Their sacrifice, he says, gave them a Republic “that I am fixing after a long and hard four years – that was a long, hard four years we went through.”
Mr Trump keeps going: “People pouring through our borders unchecked, people doing things that are indescribable and not for today to discuss.”
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Trump rises now.
Currently giving the presidential address for Memorial Day is Donald Trump.
BST at 05:10 PM
Vance: America’s leaders should “treat the lives of our troops as the most pressure resource,” JD Vance adds, prompting a round of applause from those in attendance. We should be wary about entering war.
He goes on: “The very best approach to honour the fallen, is to only ask the following generation to make the ultimate sacrifice when they really must. Sending our people to battle calls for great care.
05:09 PM BST
Memorial Day is about this exactly.
Speaking now, JD Vance is imploring Americans to consider the sacrifice made by departed troops.
“The real tragedy of the loss is not in a single moment of suffering… but in all the future events they and their families lost, every moment between their sacrifice on the battlefield and what would have been a natural death,” he argues.
“They give up the embrace of a child. They give walking their daughter down the aisle second priority.
“Consider the sum of all the moments that make a good life, and now appreciate the countless strangers, people most of you never met, they gave up those moments in their own life so that we could enjoy them in ours,” the US vice president says.
Memorial Day is all about that as well.
04:59 PM BST
We have to get ready for battle, Hegseth
Now speaking is US defense secretary Pete Hegseth.
“We have to get ready for war since we aim for peace.” “We shall never be complacent on behalf of those who have so given. We owe these guys nothing less.
Declaring they are “on the shoulders of those great men in those graces,” he says “may we live to be worthy of it.”
04:50 PM BST
Chairman of joint chiefs speaking now
Before Donald Trump is Dan Caine, the joint chiefs of staff chairman speaking.
He honors departed soldiers whose “incredible acts of valor and sacrifice” and “the gift of selfless sacrifice for something greater than themselves.”
“We should thank God that some such men lived,” he says, quoting George S. Patton, the US general in charge of the Seventh Army during the Allied invasion of Sicily during the Second World War.
05:44 PM BST
Trump walks out.
Appearing in front of the Arlington audience, Donald Trump has pounded his fist in time with “Hail to the Chief.”
04:41 PM BST
Trump will shortly give a Memorial Day speech.
Shortly following his wreath- laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver his Memorial Day speech.
But prior to that, the audience in the Arlington National Amphitheater is listening from a military band.
Earlier today at Arlington, prior of Mr Trump’s arrival, the US Marine Band and the US Navy Band Sea Chanters conducted a prelude.
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Trump pays tribute at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier.
Handed the wreath, Donald Trump heads to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, sets it on a white stand, then stands silently with his hands closed before him.
Then he pivots and returns to line with JD Vance and Pete Hegseth, saluting once more.
04:26 PM BST
Although Donald Trump is yet to show up at the scene at Arlington, members of his cabinet and top military officials are silently standing in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Amphitheater.
In the presidential custom on Memorial Day, the US president is ready to place the wreath from a white stand.
Rising in front row clothed in black and with her hands joined, Tulsi Gabbard, the national intelligence head and Iraq War veteran, commands a conspicuous presence.
04:20 PM BST
Trump wishes “Happy Memorial Day” to “scum.”
Before speaking at Arlington National Cemetery, Donald Trump wished a “Happy Memorial Day to all, including the scum that spent the last four years trying to destroy our country through warped radical left minds.”
Targeting his predecessor, Joe Biden, he called him a “incompetent president” who had let foreign criminals flood the US and claimed was now under protection by “USA-hating judges.”
“Fear not, we have made great progress over the last four months; American will soon be safe and great again!” the US president said. Once more, happy Memorial Day and God Bless America.
04:16 PM BST
After Russia’s worst air attack on Ukraine, Trump labels Putin “crazy.”
For his attacks on Ukrainian cities, Donald Trump has labelled Vladimir Putin “absolutely crazy,” directing some of his toughest condemnation at the Russian president.
Notwithstanding a prisoner swap and the US advocating a truce, a record number of Russian drones murdered at least 13 people across Ukraine during the weekend.
On Sunday night, Mr. Trump on Truth Social said, “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him.” This was a rare critique of Putin. He has gone completely insane!
The US president then cautioned that Putin’s desire to rule all of Ukraine would “cause the downfall of Russia.”
Visit Sunday’s entire article here.
04:15 PM BST
Hi welcome.
Hi and welcome the live blog. Benedict Smith resides here. As Donald Trump addresses Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, we will be providing the most recent updates.
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