President Donald Trump delivered a Thanksgiving message to members of the American military serving overseas, praising their efforts to fight terrorism.
“It’s an honor to speak with you all, to give God thanks for the blessing of freedom, heroes, tremendous courage, Very, very special people. It doesn’t get more special,” Trump said.
The president spoke with several military groups in a video conference call from his Mar-a-lago club in Florida, noting their excellent progress against terrorists in just three to four months.
Trump spoke with the 82nd Army Airborne troops in Afghanistan, the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion in Iraq, sailers aboard the USS Monterey at sea in the 5th Fleet AOR, and Airmen in the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron stationed in Turkey. He also spoke with Coast Guard members aboard the USCG Wrangell in Kuwait.
He praised them for being “brave, incredible fighters.”
“They say we’ve made more progress against ISIS than they did in years of the previous administration,” Trump said. “And that’s because I’m letting you do your job.”
The president also thanked military families of the troops overseas.
“I know they miss you and they miss you so deeply and so badly,” he said. “They’re every bit as important as everyone else you work with because they put up with so much.”
Trump also told the soldiers that the economy was doing well at home and that he was working on getting “big, fat, beautiful tax cuts” passed.
“We’re doing well at home. The economy is doing really great,” he said. “When you come back, you’re gonna see with the jobs and companies coming back into our country… you’re fighting for something real. You’re fighting for something good.”
He thanked them for serving their country around the world.
“Thank God for you,” he said.
After several minutes of remarks, the president told the media to leave so that he could have more personal conversations with some of the soldiers in their absence.
“I will say: ‘You’re fired,’” he joked. “And, by the way, media: Happy Thanksgiving.”