Briefings & Statements
Presidential Message on the 251st Birthday of the United States Army
The White House
June 14, 2026
Today, our Nation celebrates the 251st birthday of the United States Army, the oldest branch of the most storied and feared fighting force the world has ever known. For over two and a half centuries, the courage and sacrifice of our soldiers have defended our homeland and kept our Nation sovereign, strong, and free in the blessings of liberty. Our Republic salutes these heroes, and on this glorious anniversary, we stand as one people, bound by gratitude, humbled by their sacrifices, and unwavering in our commitment to the brave men and women who will always defend her.
The United States Army was established on June 14, 1775, when the Second Continental Congress authorized the creation of a unified Continental Army under the command of General George Washington. From the birth of our Nation the next year and the brutal winter of Valley Forge to the triumphant fields of Saratoga and the victory at Yorktown that secured our freedom, the United States Army has been at the center of our great national story from the very beginning. In the 251 years since its inception, the Army has answered every call history has placed before it: preserving the Union through the perils of civil war, liberating the long-suffering people of Cuba during the Spanish-American War, and crossing vast oceans to deliver absolute victory in two World Wars. Our warfighters stood firm in the frozen hills of Korea, endured the unforgiving jungles of Vietnam, and answered the call to defend freedom in the scorching deserts of Kuwait and Iraq and in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan. Today, our Army remains on the front lines in the fight to preserve America’s peace, prosperity, and security
Just as the Army has always fought for us, we must now stand up for them. My Administration has proposed historic investments to rebuild our Army like never before and ensure our warfighters have every tool at their disposal. Combined with hundreds of billions of dollars in Army investments already delivered through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, we are upgrading critical Army infrastructure, rapidly delivering advanced weapons systems to our Soldiers, increasing the lethality of our joint force, expanding our defense industrial base, and bolstering our Nation’s strategic deterrence through an unwavering America First agenda.
Our soldiers and their families deserve the full support of a grateful Nation, and last Christmas, I was proud to deliver a Warrior Dividend to more than 1.5 million Service Members, a tax-free $1,776 bonus in honor of the year our Nation was born and a fitting recognition of the sacrifice and valor these Americans demonstrate every day in defense of our freedoms and way of life. Under my leadership, we have also purged the anti-American DEI ideologies that took root in our ranks, restored the warrior ethos to its rightful place at the center of military culture, and rebuilt our Army on the foundation it has always thrived upon: merit, grit, and strength. Today, our soldiers are once again united by a commitment to this Nation’s founding principles, the American people’s shared and glorious history, and an unbreakable devotion to duty. The results speak for themselves: Recruiting has surged to historic levels, with the Army reaching its 2026 goals 4 months ahead of schedule.
As we celebrate 250 glorious years of American Independence, we greet the arrival of a new Golden Age for the United States Army. We commit to always standing with our incredible Service Members, their proud families, and the loved ones who support them. Above all, we honor every soldier who has ever answered the call to serve and reaffirm the timeless pledge that has guided generations: This We’ll Defend.
