特朗普总统在雷克斯·蒂勒森国务卿宣誓仪式上的讲话
President Trump: Thank you very much, Mike. Justreturned from an amazing visit with a great, greatfamily at Dover, and it was something – very sad,very beautiful. Ryan, a great man.
Secretary Tillerson, I first want to congratulate you,Renda, and your entire family on this incrediblehonor – and it is that, an incredible honor. You bring the unique skills and deep, deep insights– and I've gotten to see it firsthand – into foreign diplomacy our nation needs to fosterstability and security in a world too often trapped – and right now, it's trapped – in violenceand in war.
You understand that the job of our diplomats and the mission of the State Department is toserve the interests of the United States of America to make our nation safer, our country moreprosperous, and our people much more secure. In that mission, you also understand theimportance of strengthening our alliances and forming new alliances to enhance our strategicinterests and the safety of our people.
Your whole life has prepared you for this moment, and you really have had a tremendous life –heading up one of the great companies of the world and doing it magnificently, absolutelymagnificently. And I can say this is a man that's respected all over the world, before he evenbegins.
But as Renda said, now he's beginning his big, big, and most important journey. This is whereyou were meant to be, right here, today, at this crossroads in history. It's time to bring a clear-eyed focus to foreign affairs, to take a fresh look at the world around us, and to seek newsolutions grounded in very ancient truths. These truths include the fact that nations have aright to protect to their interests, that all people have a right to freely pursue their owndestiny, and that all of us are better off when we act in concert and not in conflict. Andthere's rarely been conflict like we have in the world today – very sad.
I am excited for you. I am excited for your family. And perhaps most importantly, I am excitedfor our great country. Though you inherit enormous challenges in the Middle East and aroundthe world, I do believe we can achieve peace and stability in these very, very troubled times.
May God bless you in this journey. And may God bless our very, very special and great country.Thank you very much.
Mike, you can do the honors. Thank you.
(The Secretary is sworn in.)
Secretary Tillerson: Well, first, I want to express my profound thanks to President Trump forgiving me this extraordinary opportunity to serve my country. I also want to thank VicePresident Pence for giving me the honor of swearing me into this office today.
I have a few folks in the room that are with me that have helped me over the last month to getto this point of confirmation. They represent a much larger cadre of people who have workedenormously long hours, tirelessly, helping me and guiding me through the confirmationprocess. And to them, I will always be eternally grateful for the sacrifice they've made of theirtime and effort these past weeks.
I've also received over the last month so many messages, letters, phone calls of best wishes,encouragement, prayers from family, friends and colleagues who know me well. But I've alsoreceived an enormous outpouring of wonderful messages from people all over the countrywhom I do not know – words of encouragement and their prayers. And it's their messagesthat are going to really stand in steadfast reminder to me as I enter the responsibilities ofSecretary of State, that as I serve this President, I serve their interest and will always representthe interest of all of the American people at all times.
And again, Mr. President, thank you for this extraordinary opportunity.
President Trump: He left a very good job for this, I want to tell you.
