President Trump hosted a Greek Independence Day celebration at the White House on Monday.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Mr. President, first of all, allow me to offer the
00:29congratulations of the Greek-American community on your re-election to the Presidency of
00:36our nation.
00:43We all look forward to a bright future for all Americans.
00:53I also want to thank you for creating the White House Faith Office, which promises to
01:00be an extraordinary collaboration between your administration and all faith leaders.
01:11Today, Mr. President, you bestow extraordinary honor upon the Greek-American people with
01:19the annual Greek Independence Day celebration here at the White House.
01:25As ever, we are all humbled by the prestige of this celebration.
01:31And on behalf of all, I thank you.
01:35Thank you for continuing this wonderful tradition that recognizes the Greek roots of democracy.
01:43We are here to celebrate the world's first democracy, Greece.
01:51But we are here also to celebrate the world's greatest democracy, the United States of America.
02:06We acclaim and remember the immortal heroes of 1821, who, like those of 1776, gave their
02:16all to attain liberty for their land.
02:20Mr. President, we especially thank you for your commitment to Christianity, and especially
02:27the Christians of the Middle East, who keep Christianity alive and thriving in the lands
02:34of its origin.
02:44As sons and daughters of the Mother Church of Constantinople, whose longest-serving leader
02:50in history is His All-Holiness, our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, we thank you for your
02:56unwavering support of the spiritual mission of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.
03:04Mr. President, you lead the world.
03:09You are the leader of the world.
03:11You are the leader in championing freedom and peace between all peoples.
03:18We are very grateful to you for your support of Greece, and your support for the cause
03:25of justice in Cyprus.
03:28Through your leadership, you embody the values of our Christian faith and love for the gospel.
03:37You remind me of the great Roman emperor, Constantine the Great.
03:50This emperor, dear Mr. President, is the one who founded and built the magnificent
04:00city of Constantinople, my birthplace, known today as Istanbul.
04:10It is my great honor to present you with this holy cross.
04:24This cross is the very symbol that led this great Roman emperor, Constantine, to victory.
04:33As Christ revealed to him in a vision, He said,
04:38Entuto nica, told the emperor, means go with this and be victorious, Mr. President.
04:47This cross is an everlasting symbol of peace and an invincible trophy, a sign of divine
04:56strength and guidance.
04:58With this cross, I pray you bring peace to the world and make America invincible.
05:28Wow, that's so beautiful.
05:38Thank you very much.
05:39I didn't know that was going to happen, but I'll take it.
05:45Thank you so much.
05:48Greek Independence Day.
05:50Wow.
05:51I'm delighted to welcome to the White House the hundreds of proud, hardworking Greek
05:56American patriots.
05:57I know so many of you.
05:59I like most of you.
06:00Some I don't like.
06:01They get to be very tough, pretty tough people out there.
06:04But that's okay.
06:05We love you.
06:06We love you all.
06:07In a few moments, I'll sign the proclamation to officially recognize tomorrow, March 25th,
06:122025, as Greek Independence Day, celebrating 204 years, that's right, celebrating 204 years
06:21of glorious Greek sovereignty and freedom.
06:25That's a long time.
06:26That's a great, that's a great thing we're doing and such an honor to have you.
06:31So having his eminence, the archbishop with us is very special.
06:37And I've been doing this from the very beginning.
06:40We missed four years, unfortunately, bad things happened, a lot of bad things happen.
06:47And the world, the world wasn't doing so well for four years, but we're doing well now.
06:51We're doing better now than we've ever done.
06:53We have things happening with our country that are incredible.
06:56And in terms of businesses coming in, I think we're close to $4 trillion.
07:00Now, nobody's ever even heard of anything like that.
07:03And they're coming in, Archbishop, they're coming in at levels that we have never seen.
07:07And we're doing well and the Greeks are doing well.
07:09They'll always do well.
07:10And I want to thank some of the wonderful Greek Americans working tirelessly by my side,
07:16members of my administration, friends of mine, and just incredible people.
07:21The President of Science and Technology Policy, Michael Kratios.
07:27Where's Michael?
07:28Hello.
07:29Hello, Michael.
07:30Thank you, Michael.
07:33And Deputy Secretary of State, Michael Reigis.
07:36Michael, thank you very much.
07:40Thank you very much.
07:42I also want to thank Greeks for Trump, Greeks for...
07:45Those are the ones I really like.
07:49Christos Marathatos.
07:50Christos.
07:51Where's Christos?
07:52Good-looking guy he is.
07:56Thank you very much.
07:57And we also have some very powerful Greek politicians like Gus.
08:01Gus, will you please stand up?
08:04Nobody sees you.
08:05Gus Bilirakis.
08:06And he is a great...
08:09He's a great friend of mine and he's doing well.
08:11You're doing well, aren't you, Gus, huh?
08:13Yeah, I always say, stand up a little higher, Gus.
08:18And Mike Herodopoulos.
08:19Mike, thank you very much.
08:22Where's Mike?
08:23Mike, thank you very much.
08:24Appreciate it.
08:25Thank you for everything.
08:26Lance Gooden.
08:27Where's Lance?
08:28I don't know if...
08:29I don't know how much Greek you have in you, Lance.
08:32Oh, the Greek, you do have.
08:34That's the ultimate.
08:35You're right.
08:36And Joe Wilson, our friend, Joe Wilson.
08:38Joe, thank you.
08:40Thanks.
08:41Thank you, Joe.
08:43And EPA Administrator, Lee Zeldin, who's got a big job.
08:47Thank you, Lee.
08:49He's got a big job.
08:50He's got to get those permits out fast because China gives fast permits, right?
08:54They don't even do permits.
08:55They just say, build.
08:56Don't worry about it.
08:57Chief Financial Officer of Florida, Jimmy Petronas, who's running in a big race.
09:03He's running in a big race.
09:04And I hear you're doing well in the polls.
09:06You got to win that one, but they got to get out and vote, right, Jimmy?
09:09But you're doing great.
09:11And my former chief of staff, who's a terrific guy, Reince Breibus.
09:14Reince?
09:15Hi, Reince.
09:17Reince is a terrific guy and another terrific guy and woman, by the way.
09:23We have John Casamitides, number one, and his beautiful wife, Margo.
09:29And I want to thank you.
09:30And your daughter, Andrea, is here.
09:31Good.
09:32Wow.
09:33That's good.
09:34That's — we have the whole family.
09:35He's done a fantastic job.
09:37The family has with ABC, and they have the biggest radio show and biggest station, I
09:42think, in New York.
09:43So good.
09:44We have to really be nice to them when we think we're going to win New York.
09:48And if you have him on your side.
09:50But it's a great family.
09:51Thank you very much.
09:52My friends, for a long time.
09:53Thanks, John.
09:54Let me also extend a special welcome to Ambassador Nasica from Greece and Ambassador Sava from
10:01Cyprus.
10:02Two very friendly rivals.
10:07Thank you both very much.
10:08The bond between the United States and modern Greek nation goes back more than two centuries.
10:15On March 25th, 1821, Greek patriots began their noble fight to reclaim their destiny
10:21from the grip of a foreign empire, a very powerful foreign empire.
10:26President James Monroe said at the time that the whole civilized world had a deep interest
10:31in a victory for the Greek people.
10:35President Monroe understood that Americans were bound by history and culture to the birthplace
10:40of democracy and the cradle of Western civilization.
10:44From the pages of our Constitution to the architecture of this capital city, this wonderful
10:50city of ours that we're fixing up, starting to shape up very nicely, isn't it?
10:55To the very words of the English language, the legacy of the Greeks is all around us
11:00that encircles us.
11:02But perhaps the greatest gift we have inherited from that amazing culture is our incredible
11:06Greek American community that is now more than three million strong.
11:12I worked very hard.
11:16I worked very hard on getting your votes, but we didn't need to because we got them
11:20by a lot, right?
11:22We won by a lot and we love them and they love us.
11:25But we're joined today by one extraordinary Greek American citizen, Alex Skarlatos.
11:32And you know the story of Alex, inspired by his grandfather who fought against the Nazis
11:36and the Greek resistance.
11:39Alex joined the National Guard after high school, 10 years ago, following a deployment
11:44to Afghanistan.
11:45You all read about this.
11:46Alex and his friends were on a train from Amsterdam to Paris when a bloodthirsty, radical
11:52Islamic terrorist began shooting innocent people all over the train.
11:56They were falling left and right.
11:59In an act of tremendous valor, Alex and his comrades charged the gunman, despite being
12:04completely unarmed, and beat him into submission.
12:08And where is Alex?
12:10He's around here someplace.
12:11Get up here, Alex.
12:12Get up here.
12:13Come on, Alex.
12:14Get up here, Alex.
12:15Get up here, Alex.
12:21Before providing life-saving aid to an American who was shot and hurt so badly, Alex's bravery
12:27helped save countless innocent lives that day.
12:30And today he continues to serve his country as a member of the Oregon State Legislature.
12:34So Alex, come up here for a second.
12:36I at least want to shake your hand.
12:38Come up here.
12:43That's a big story.
12:44He had a lot of...
12:45I don't think I would have done that.
12:46I don't know.
12:47I'm not sure.
12:48Come here.
12:50I appreciate it.
12:51You want to say something?
12:52Go ahead.
12:53Oh.
12:54Well, one of the last times I was here was actually to watch our movie that Clint Eastwood
12:58directed, and we watched it with the president.
13:01And that was, yeah, I think February of 2018.
13:05And I honestly was surprised because I thought the president would watch about 10 minutes
13:11and then leave.
13:13And he stayed for the whole movie, which I was very impressed by because we played ourselves
13:18in the movie and the acting wasn't the best, but it was a very accurate movie.
13:22And the best part was when it came to the part where we were beating up the terrorists,
13:29the president hit me on the shoulder and was like, right on.
13:32And I was like, whoa.
13:33So that's one of the top tier memories for me.
13:38So I just wanted to say thanks so much.
13:39Great to see you again.
13:40Thank you very much.
13:42Thank you, Alex.
13:47We're also joined by another Greek American who first came here from Athens with $75 in
13:53his pocket after becoming an American citizen, Steve Valetsis.
13:59Where's Steve?
14:00Steve.
14:01That's our good story, Steve.
14:02You've got plenty of cash now.
14:04So you started off with $75 and today you have a lot of money.
14:10Steve built one of the most respected catering companies in Washington and all around the
14:14East Coast.
14:16And they proudly catered the inaugural banquet in the U.S. Capitol for every president since
14:22Ronald Reagan.
14:23And I must tell you, he just did ours.
14:26He did three.
14:28The one we didn't show up to because something happened.
14:32He was ready to do three, but something happened on the middle one.
14:35But we did awfully well that day, I will tell you.
14:39But he just did one on January 20th, 2025.
14:43And everybody is still talking about the great food and the great service.
14:46And you did a fantastic job.
14:47There were a lot of people.
14:49Thank you very much, Steve, and your family.
14:52Also, many of you know Steve's daughter, Alexandra, as the Director of the White House
14:58Fiduciary Office.
14:59Congratulations to Steve and Alexandra.
15:02Great job.
15:03Great job.
15:04Thanks, Alexandra.
15:05Great job you do.
15:06You do a fantastic job at the White House.
15:09Also with us in person and a person that really is a great friend and been a great friend
15:16for a long time.
15:17I've known this woman, although she's very young yet, I've known her for a long time.
15:22She came here and she loves our country and she loves Greece.
15:26And now she's going to be the future ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, Kimberly Guilfoyle.
15:32And I'm going to say, Kimberly, come on up and say a few words.
15:37Kimberly, come.
15:39She's really a good person.
15:41She represents the Greek culture very well, I will tell you.
15:45She's very proud of it.
15:46Kimberly, please.
15:47Thank you, sweetheart.
15:48Good afternoon.
15:49Thank you so much of everyone being here.
15:57And I tell you, this is the honor and privilege of a lifetime to serve this country and to
16:02serve a country that I love so much, that is so near and dear to my heart with Greece
16:07and to do it under the guidance, the leadership, the most important, powerful president that
16:13this country has ever seen, a man of integrity.
16:16I know the measure of the man and his character and his strength.
16:19And I know his love for the people of Greece, the birthplace of democracy.
16:24And today we celebrate and cherish our rich history and our enduring bond, the United
16:30States and Greece and the founding of the Hellenic Republic.
16:34And under President Trump, no sleep well at night and wake up in the morning feeling hopeful
16:40and optimistic for a man that will fight for the economy of this country and of Greece,
16:45for religious liberty and freedom and for the enduring alliance of Greece and the United
16:51States.
16:52God bless you all.
16:54Thank you for having me.
17:07Four more years.
17:10Thank you, Kimberly.
17:12We are well represented with Kimberly.
17:14Do we agree?
17:15Thank you, Kimberly.
17:16From Washington to Chicago, from New York to Detroit, from Philadelphia to the famous
17:22Tarpon Springs, you know all about Tarpon Springs, Florida, Greek Americans have blessed
17:27our country with exceptional courage, patriotism and tremendous skill.
17:32Under this administration, we will continue to honor the virtues, ideals and spirit of
17:36this magnificent heritage.
17:38And it is indeed magnificent that has flourished for thousands of years from the Golden Age
17:44of ancient Greece to the Golden Age of America.
17:47That's where we are right now.
17:48The Golden Age of America.
17:51Once again, let me wish you all a very, very happy Greek Independence Day.
17:56It's an honor again to have your eminence.
17:58It's an honor to have you with us.
17:59I appreciate it very much.
18:00And I appreciate that magnificent cross.
18:03It will be with me always.
18:05And I'd just like to finish by saying you are a very, very special people.
18:13I wouldn't have missed this.
18:14I was very busy today.
18:16I had something they took me away and I said, well, isn't that the same day we're celebrating
18:20Greek Independence Day?
18:21They said, yes.
18:22They said, cancel the other one.
18:23It was a very big deal.
18:24It was it was not easy to do, my friend.
18:29It was not easy to do, but we did it.
18:31And it's now my honor to sign the proclamation.
18:34Thank you very much.