Learn English Donald Trump We dont worship government we worship God. with BIG subtitles
thank you very much everybody and
congratulations to the class of 2017
that’s some achievement this is your day
and you’ve earned every minute of it
and I’m thrilled to be back at Liberty
University I’ve been here this is now my
third time and we love setting records
right we always set records we have to
set records we have no choice it’s been
a little over a year since I’ve spoken
on your beautiful campus and so much has
changed right here the class of 2017
dressed in cap and gown graduating to a
totally brilliant future and here I am
standing before you as president of the
United States so I’m guessing there are
some people here today who thought that
either one of those things either one
would really require major help from God
do we agree and we got it
but here we are celebrating together on
this very joyous occasion and there’s no
place in the world I’d rather be to give
my first commencement address as
president then here with my wonderful
friends at Liberty University and and I
accepted this invitation a long time ago
I said to Jerry that I’d be there and
when I say something I mean it
I want to thank President Jerry Falwell
and his incredible wife Becky stand up
Becky for their kind words their
steadfast support and they’re really
wonderful friendship
let me also extend our appreciation to
the entire Falwell family Trey Sarah
Wesley Laura and Caroline thank you for
everything you do to make this
university so exceptional one of the
truly great great schools most
importantly to our new graduates each of
you should take immense pride in what
you have achieved there’s another group
of amazing people we want to celebrate
today and they are the ones who have
made this journey possible for you and
you know who that is
nobody that you forgot already you’re
gonna go out you’re gonna do whatever
you’re gonna do some we’re gonna make a
lot of money somebody even happier doing
other things they’re your parents and
your grandparents don’t forget them you
haven’t forgotten yet have you never
ever forget them they’re great and
especially this weekend let’s make sure
we give a really extra special thanks to
the moms don’t forget our moms because
graduates today is your day today is
your day but in all of this excitement
don’t forget that tomorrow is Mother’s
Day right I had a great mother she’s
looking down now but I had a great
mother I always loved Mother’s Day we’re
also deeply honored to be joined by some
of the nearly 6,000 service members
military veterans and military spouses
who are receiving their diplomas today
would you please stand please stand Wow
[Applause]
that’s great thank you very much
great job we’re profoundly grateful to
every single one of you sacrifice to
keep us safe and to protect God’s
precious gift of freedom it is truly a
testament to this university and to the
values that you embrace that your
graduating class includes so many
patriots who have served our country in
uniform thank you very much to the class
of 2017
today you end one chapter but you are
about to begin the greatest adventure of
your life just think for a moment of how
blessed you are to be here today at this
great great university living into this
amazing country surrounded by people who
you love and care about so much then ask
yourself with all of those blessings and
all of the blessings that you’ve been
given what will you give back to this
country and indeed to the world what
imprint will you leave in the sands of
history what will future Americans say
we did in our brief time right here on
earth
did we take risks did we dare to defy
expectations did we challenge accepted
wisdom and take on established systems I
think I did but we all did and we’re all
doing it or did we just go along with
convention swim downstream so easily
with the current and just given because
it was the easy way it was the
traditional way or it was the accepted
way remember this nothing worth doing
ever ever came easy following your
convictions means you must be willing to
face criticism from those who lack the
same courage to do what is right and
they know what is right but they don’t
have the courage or the guts or the
stamina to take it and to do it it’s
called the road less traveled I know
that each of you will be a warrior for
the truth will be a warrior for our
country and for your family I know that
each of you will do what is right not
what is the easy way and that you will
be true to yourself and your country and
your beliefs in my short time in
Washington I’ve seen firsthand how the
system is broken
a small group of failed voices who think
they know everything and understand
everyone want to tell everybody else how
to live and what to do and how to think
but you aren’t going to let other people
tell you what you believe especially
when you know that you’re right
[Applause]
and those of you graduating here today
who have given half a million hours of
charity last year alone unbelievable
amount of work and charity and few
universities or colleges can claim
anything even close we don’t need a
lecture from Washington on how to lead
our lives I’m standing here looking at
the next generation of American leaders
there may very well be a president or
two in our midst
anybody think they’re going to be
President raise your hand in your hearts
are inscribed the values of service
sacrifice and devotion now you must go
forth into the world and turn your hopes
and dreams into action America has
always been the land of dreams because
America is a nation of true believers
when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth
they prayed when the founders wrote the
Declaration of Independence they invoked
our Creator four times because in
America we don’t worship government we
worship God
[Applause]
that is why our elected officials put
their hands on the Bible and say so help
me God as they take the oath of office
it is why our currency proudly declares
in god we trust' and it’s why we proudly
proclaim that we are one nation under
God every time we say the Pledge of
Allegiance
[Applause]
the story of America is the story of an
adventure that began with deep faith big
dreams and humble beginnings that is
also the story of Liberty University
when I think about the visionary founder
of this great institution Reverend Jerry
Falwell senior I can only imagine how
excited he would be if he could see all
of this and all of you today and how
proud he would be of his son and of his
family in just two days we will mark the
10th anniversary of Reverend Falwell
–zz passing and I used to love watching
him on television hearing him preach he
was a very special man he would be so
proud not just that what you’ve achieved
but of the young men and women of
character that you’ve all become and
Jerry I know you’re dead he’s looking
down on you right now and he is proud he
is very proud so congratulations on a
great job Reverend Falwell –zz life is
a testament to the power of faith to
change the world the inspiring legacy
that we see all around us in this great
stadium this is a beautiful stadium and
it is packed I’m so happy about that I
said how are you gonna fill up a place
like that it is packed Jerry in this
beautiful campus and in your smiling
faces but it all began with a vision
that vision was of a world-class
University for evangelical Christians
and I want to thank you because boy did
you come out and vote those of you that
are old enough in other words your
parents
[Applause]
boy oh boy you voted you voted no doubt
many people told him his vision was
impossible and I am sure they continued
to say that so long after he started at
the beginning with just 154 students but
the fact is no one has ever achieved
anything significant without a chorus of
critics standing on the sidelines
explaining why it can’t be done nothing
is easier or more pathetic than being a
critic because they’re people that can’t
get the job done but the future belongs
to the dreamers not to the critics the
future belongs to the people who follow
their heart no matter what the critics
say because they truly believe in their
vision at Liberty your leaders knew from
the very beginning that a strong
athletic program would help this campus
grow so that this school might transform
more lives that is why a crucial part of
Reverend Falwell vision for making
Liberty a world-class institution was
having a world-class football team much
like the great teams of Notre Dame great
school great place in fact vice
president Mike Pence is there today
doing a fabulous job as he always does
[Applause]
a few years ago the New York Times even
wrote a story on the great ambitions of
the Liberty flames that story prompted a
longtime president of another school to
write a letter to Jerry
it’s a letter that Reverend Falwell
would have been very very pleased to
read Jerry tells me that letter now
hangs in the wall in the board room of
your great University it came from the
late father Theodore Hesburgh who was
the beloved president of the University
of Notre Dame 35 years ago like this
school’s founder he was a truly
kind-hearted man a very very deep faith
in the letter father Hesburgh recalled
that notre dame’s own meteoric rise from
a small Midwestern school to a national
football powerhouse and then he wrote
something so amazing in generous he
wrote I think you are on that same
trajectory now and I want to wish you
all the best and encourage you from the
starting and from being able to start
very small and arriving in the big time
thanks to hard work great faith and
incredible devotion those dreams have
come true
as of February of this year the Liberty
flames are playing in the FBS the
highest level of competition in NCAA
football don’t don’t clap that could be
tough don’t clap that could be tough I’m
a little worried I don’t want to look at
some of those scores here Jerry you sure
you know what you’re doing here those
other players are big and fast and
strong but I have a feeling you’re gonna
do very well right from the most humble
roots you’ve become a powerhouse in both
education and sports and just wait until
the world hears the football teams
you’ll be playing on your schedule
starting
next season president Falwell gave me a
list of some of those schools the ones
you’re going to be playing 2018 would
you like me to read the names just came
out would you like to hear I’m a little
bit concerned
UMass Virginia Auburn Jerry are you sure
you know what you do Jerry or Bern I
don’t know about that James this could
be trouble Jerry Rutgers Old Dominion
Brigham Young Army I might be at that
game who am I supposed to vote for tell
me that’s a tough one Jerry I don’t know
Jerry I’m gonna have to think about that
one Jerry Buffalo Troy Virginia Tech oh
no Jerry Ole Miss and Wake Forest those
it really top schools that’s maybe in
four or five years they’ll come to a
game right you’ll build it up well good
luck the success of your athletic
program arriving on the big stage should
be a reminder to every new graduate of
just what you can achieve when you start
small pursue a big vision and never ever
quit you never quit if I give you one
message to hold in your hearts today
it’s this never ever give up there’ll be
times in your life you’ll want to quit
you’ll want to go home you’ll want to go
home perhaps of that wonderful mother
that’s sitting back there watching you
and say mom I can’t do it I can’t do it
just never quit go back home and tell
mom dad I can do it I can do it I will
do it you’re gonna be successful I’ve
seen so many brilliant people they gave
up in life they were totally brilliant
they were top of their class they were
the best students they were the
best of everything they gave up I’ve
seen others who really didn’t have that
talent or that ability and there are
among the most successful people today
in the world because they never quit and
they never gave up so just remember that
never stop fighting for what you believe
in and for the people who care about you
carry yourself with dignity and pride
demand the best from yourself and be
totally unafraid to challenge entrenched
interests and failed power structures
does that sound unfamiliar by the way
the more people tell you it’s not
possible that it can’t be done the more
you should be absolutely determined to
prove them wrong treat the word
impossible as nothing more than
motivation relish the opportunity to be
an outsider embrace that label being an
outsider is fine embrace the label
because it’s the outsiders who change
the world and it’ll make a real and
lasting difference the more that a
broken system tells you that you’re
wrong the more certain you should be
that you must keep pushing ahead you
must keep pushing forward and always
have the courage to be yourself most
importantly you have to do what you love
you have to do what you love I’ve seen
so many people they’re forced through
lots of reasons sometimes including
family to go down a path that they don’t
want to go down to go down a path that
leads them to something that they don’t
love that they don’t enjoy you have to
do what you love or you most likely
won’t be very successful at it so do
what you love I want to recognize a
friend who is here with us today who can
serve as an inspiration to us all
someone who doesn’t know the meaning of
the word quit real champion a true true
champion both on the field off the field
he’s a Hall of Fame quarterback for the
Buffalo Bills really a good friend of
mine an amazing guy Jim Kelly where’s
Jim he’s here someplace
where does Jim stand up Jim what a great
man Jim Kelly he was tough
Jim do you have any idea how much money
you’d be making today they’d hit Jim it
was like tackling a linebacker they’d
hit Jim four guys five guys that weighed
320 and they’d just keep going down the
field he was much more than a
quarterback he had tremendous heart and
he knew how to win
Jim is tough and his toughest fight of
all was that he beat cancer not once but
twice
[Applause]
and I saw him and his incredible wife as
they were in a very low moment Jill very
very low moment and it was amazing the
way they fought it didn’t look good I
would have said maybe maybe it’s not
gonna happen but there was always that
hope because of Jim and Jim’s heart but
I want to just say it’s great to have
you here today Jim and these people are
big big fans and if you could get a
young version of Jim Kelly you’ll be
beating a lot of teams Jerry so
interestingly though I said I wonder
what Jim’s doing here his daughter Erin
crosses the goal line to you and today
with you so Erin stand up where are you
Erin where is Erin congratulations Erin
congratulations
graduating from Liberty great choice
thank you
Liberty University is a place where they
really have true champions and you have
a simple cream that you live by to be
really champions for Christ whether
you’re called to be a missionary
overseas to Shepherd a church or to be a
leader in your community you are living
witness of the Gospel message of faith
hope and love and I must tell you I am
so proud as your president to have
helped you along over the past short
period of time I said I was going to do
it and Jerry I did it and a lot of
people are very happy with what’s taking
place especially last week we did some
very important signings right James very
important signings America is better
when people put their faith into action
as long as I am your president no one is
ever going to stop you from practicing
your faith or from preaching what’s in
your heart
[Applause]
we will always stand up for the right of
all Americans to pray to God and to
follow his teachings America is
beginning a new chapter today each of
you begins a new chapter as well when
your story goes from here it will be
defined by your vision your perseverance
and your grit that’s a word Jim Kelly
knows very well your grit in this I’m
reminded of another man you know very
well and who has joined us here today
his name is George Rogers Liberty
University CFO and vice president for a
quarter of a century during World War
Two George spent three and a half years
as a prisoner of war he saw many of his
fellow soldiers died during the Bataan
Death March he was the victim of
starvation and torture as a prisoner of
war when he was finally set free he
weighed just 85 pounds and was told he
would not live past the age of 40 today
George is 98 years old
[Applause]
right
[Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause]
that’s so great George if anyone ever
had reason to quit to give in to the
bitterness and anger that we all face at
some point to lose hope in God’s vision
for his life it was indeed George Rogers
but that’s not what he did he stood up
for his country he stood up for his
community he stood up for his family and
he defended civilization against a tide
of barbarity the kind of barbarity we’re
seeing today and we’ve been witnessing
over the last number of years and I just
want to tell you as your president we
are doing very very well
encountering it so you just hang in
there things are going along very very
well you’ll be hearing a lot about it
next week from our generals things are
going along very very well through it
all he kept his faith in God even in the
darkest depths of despair like so many
others of his generation George came
home to a nation full of optimism and
pride and began to live out the American
dream he started a family
he discovered God’s plan for him and
pursued that vision with all his might
pouring his passion into a tiny college
in a place called Lynchburg Virginia did
you ever hear of that Lynchburg we love
Ben we love it do you like it do we like
it right I flew over it a little while
ago it’s amazing actually what started
as a dream with a few good friends he
helped Shepherd into the largest
Christian University in the world just
look at this amazing soaring growing
campus and I’ve been watching it grow
because I’ve been a friend of Liberty
for a long time now
it’s been a long time thanks in great
part to George’s financial stewardship
hundreds of thousands of young hearts
and souls have been enriched at Liberty
and inspired by the Spirit of God George
we thank you and we salute you and you
just stay healthy for a long time George
thank you now it falls on the shoulders
of each of you here today to protect the
freedom that Patriots like George earned
with their incredible sacrifice
fortunately you have been equipped with
the tools from your time right here on
this campus to make the right decisions
and to serve God family and country as
you build good lives
you will also be rebuilding our nation
you’ll be leaders in your communities
stewards of great institutions and
defenders of Liberty and you will be
great mothers and fathers and
grandmothers and grandfathers loving
friends and loving family members you
will build a future well we have the
courage to chase our dreams no matter
what the cynics and the doubters have to
say you will have the confidence to
speak the hopes in your hearts and to
express the love that stirs your souls
and you will have the faith to replace a
broken establishment with a government
that serves and protects the people
[Applause]
we must always remember that we share
one home and one glorious destiny
whether we are brown black or white we
all bleed the same red blood of patriots
we all salute the same great American
flag and we are all made by the same
Almighty God as long as you remember
what you have learned here at Liberty as
long as you have pride in your beliefs
courage in your convictions and faith in
your God then you will not fail
[Applause]
and as long as America remains true to
its values loyal to its citizens and
devoted to its creator then our best
days are yet to come
I can promise you that this has been an
exceptional morning it’s been a great
honor for me and I want to thank you the
students I also want to thank you the
family for getting them there and I want
to thank and congratulate Liberty may
God bless the class of 2017 may God
bless the United States of America may
God bless all of you here today thank
you very much thank you