Statement

Today, on the 79th birthday of the United States Air Force, I join a grateful Nation in honoring America’s airmen—past and present—for defending our liberty, safeguarding our way of life, and ruling the sky and space with exceptional professionalism and valor.

On September 18, 1947, the Air Force was born as an independent branch of the military charged with winning command of the air for America. Every day since, air power has kept our country secure, at peace, and prosperous, and when war has come, it has answered with swift and devastating force.

From the beginning, airmen have stood as our Nation’s sentries, avengers, and protectors of freedom, carrying out every mission with overwhelming power and precision, whether performing search and rescue missions, delivering aid to those in need, ensuring the integrity of our nuclear deterrent, or holding the line against our enemies from the air. These patriots carry on a storied legacy of dreamers, pioneers, and visionaries who propelled our rise as a global superpower, and their ability to “Fly-Fight-Win…Airpower Anytime, Anywhere” flows from their unwavering commitment to the warrior ethos and the core values of integrity, selflessness, and excellence.

This summer, in the heart of our Nation’s capital, Air Force fighters, tankers, bomber formations, and elite demonstration teams thundered over the National Mall and the White House in celebration of 250 glorious years of American Independence. The pageantry and the sound of freedom turned eyes skyward in awe, wonder, patriotism, and pride, and the impressive display of our arsenal offered an inspiring glimpse of the real-world capability to deploy, defend, and dominate that the world witnessed this year during critical combat operations worldwide.

Our United States Air Force is unmatched in innovation and expertise, with assets and personnel that make our citizens proud and our enemies fearful. As Commander in Chief, I extend my deepest respect to the men and women who wear its uniform, and I pledge to always support them with every resource they need to fly, fight, and win for the American People. On this anniversary, may God bless our airmen and the spouses and families who stand alongside them in service to our great Nation.