Vice President JD Vance, a veteran of the Marine Corps, joined President Donald Trump in commemorating Veterans Day on Tuesday with a traditional ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
The speeches, including remarks from Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, followed a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Vance, considered an early front-runner to replace Trump in 2028, joked that he has learned over the past few months that the president “really hates when somebody who’s speaking before him goes on for too long.”
“And so with that in mind, I have prepared a very brief and very inspiring one-hour and 45-minute speech on this beautiful Veterans Day Out here in the cold,” he joked, eliciting laughs from the crowd and Trump himself.
“Every single person who puts on the uniform of this nation deserves our gratitude, on this day especially, but every day. And so from the vice president and the entire administration to our nation’s veterans, thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice, and thank you for making us proud every single day,” Vance continued, before handing the microphone over to the president.
Trump’s own comments largely stuck to script, though he did take a few moments to recognize a number of his top aides by name.
“I’d like to name every one of you, but I think a lot of people would be upset. It’s a little cold,” he chuckled before getting back to the prompter.
“Every captain of industry, every pioneer of science, and every star whose brilliance has lit up the lights of Broadway all share one thing in common,” the president said. “They only had the chance to soar because the veterans had the courage to serve. America’s warriors have left behind the comforts of home and family to face violence, evil, and death so that our families could know joy, goodness, and peace. We honor them so strongly. Our heroes have lived through unthinkable nightmares so we could live the American dream, and the American dream is coming back again, stronger than ever before.”
“Because of what every veteran has done today, the flame of liberty shines bright,” Trump said. “The people of our nation sleep safe. The American dream surges forward, and our magnificent destiny stands more splendid and glorious than ever before. So I want to say thank you once again to every American veteran. You are very, very special people, and always in our heart.”
One day earlier, the vice president and second lady, Usha Vance, visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where Vance delivered remarks and mingled with veterans and service members.
“We’ll be rooting for you. It’s seriously amazing. I really admire your spirit,” Vance said after meeting with one soldier who discussed his injuries and treatment plan. “Every time I’m b***ing about my job, I’ll remember this guy.”
Vance’s Monday speech followed a performance from the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps and a Marine Corps birthday cake-cutting ceremony.
During his remarks, the vice president expressed pride at being “the first vice president of the United States to have been a United States Marine,” before pouring praise on his fellow jarheads.
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“The most important war-fighting technology is not a new airplane,” he stated. “The most important war-fighting technology is a well-trained and well-armed United States Marine.”
Trump’s remarks can be seen in full below.