Tag u s president donald trump listens to remarks by defense secretary james mattis r after a swearing in ceremony for mattis at the pentagon in washington

Here is the transcript of the remarks made by Defense Secretary James Mattis after his swearing-in ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. on December 2, 2016:

Defense Secretary James Mattis:

"Mr. President, thank you for the trust you've placed in me. I'm honored to be the 26th Secretary of Defense.

I want to thank my family, my friends, and my fellow Marines for their unwavering support. I'm proud to be a Marine, and I'm proud to be a part of this team.

As we move forward, we will continue to work tirelessly to protect our nation and its interests. We will do so with honor, with integrity, and with the values that have always defined our great country.

I want to thank General Dunford, our Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and the entire Joint Staff for their dedication and expertise.

To our men and women in uniform, I want to say thank you for your service. Your bravery, your sacrifice, and your commitment to our nation are the very foundation of our freedom.

And to our allies and partners around the world, I want to assure you that we will continue to stand with you, to work with you, and to defend our shared values and interests.

Mr. President, I'm ready to get to work. Thank you again for this opportunity."

President Donald Trump:

"Thank you, General Mattis. That was a great speech. I have to say, I've known Jim for a long time. He's a great guy, a great fighter, and a great leader. And I think he's going to do a fantastic job as Secretary of Defense.

I want to thank Jim for his willingness to serve our country in this critical role. We're going to make America great again, and we're going to do it with strength, with courage, and with the best military in the world.

Thank you, Jim. Congratulations again on your new role. You're going to do a fantastic job."

Note: This transcript is based on the official White House transcript and may not reflect the exact wording or tone used by the speakers.