"Why do we come to this place, to Hiroshima? We come to ponder a terrible force unleashed in a not so distant past. We come to mourn the dead, including over 100,000 in Japanese men, women and children; thousands of Koreans; a dozen Americans held prisoner. Their souls speak to us. They ask us to look inward, to take stock of who we are and what we might become." Read more»

Today, as Americans, we grieve the brutal murder — a horrific massacre — of dozens of innocent people. We pray for their families, who are grasping for answers with broken hearts. We stand with the people of Orlando, who have endured a terrible attack on their city. Although it’s still early in the investigation, we know enough to say that this was an act of terror and an act of hate. And as Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage, and in resolve to defend our people. Read more»

Muhammad Ali was The Greatest. Period. If you just asked him, he'd tell you. He'd tell you he was the double greatest; that he'd "handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder into jail." Ali shook up the world. And the world is better for it. We are all better for it. Read more»

Complete text: "So let’s talk about the future, and four big questions that we as a country have to answer – regardless of who the next President is, or who controls the next Congress. " Read more»

Announcing measures to tighten background checks to reduce gun violence Tuesday, President Obama frequently strayed from his prepared remarks as he spoke to a crowd that included Gabrielle Giffords and her ex-intern Daniel Hernandez. "The gun lobby may be holding Congress hostage but they do not have to hold America hostage," he said. Read more»

Full text: "The threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it. We will destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us. Our success won't depend on tough talk, or abandoning our values or giving into fear. That's what groups like ISIL are hoping for. Instead, we will prevail by being strong and smart, resilient and relentless." Read more»

On September 11, 2001, America experienced the worst terrorist attack in her history when nearly 3,000 men, women, and children were taken from us, leaving their families and our Nation with a void that can never be filled. But those who brought hate to our shores and smoke to our skies did not expect our country to emerge stronger, and our beacons of hope and freedom to shine brighter as a result. Read more»

Obama remembered Wyatt Martin, a Mesa solider who was one of the last two Americans to die in combat in Afghanistan, in his remarks at Arlington National Cemetery. "This may be the first Memorial Day since the end of our war in Afghanistan. But we are acutely aware, as we speak, our men and women in uniform still stand watch and still serve, and still sacrifice around the world." Read more»

On Memorial Day, the United States pauses to honor the fallen heroes who died in service to our nation. With heavy hearts and a sense of profound gratitude, we mourn these women and men — parents, children, loved ones, comrades-in-arms, friends, and all those known and unknown -- who believed so deeply in what our country could be they were willing to give their lives to protect its promise. Read more»

We're all keepers of that sacred trust that says, if you put on a uniform and risk your life to keep us safe, we'll do our part for you. We'll have your backs – just like you had ours. So this Veterans' Day, and every day, let's make sure all our veterans know how much we appreciate them. If you see a veteran, go on up and shake their hand. Look them in the eye. Say those words that every veteran deserves to hear: "Welcome home. Thank you. We need you more than ever to help us stay strong and free." Read more»

Speaking of the beheading of American journalist James Foley, kidnapped two years ago in Syria, President Obama said Wednesday said that "ISIL has no place in the 21st century." "People like this ultimately fail. They fail, because the future is won by those who build and not destroy and the world is shaped by people like Jim Foley." Read more»

Full text and video of Obama's eulogy for Nelson Mandela: "It was precisely because he could admit to imperfection — because he could be so full of good humor, even mischief, despite the heavy burdens he carried — that we loved him so. He was not a bust made of marble; he was a man of flesh and blood — a son and a husband, a father and a friend. And that's why we learned so much from him, and that's why we can learn from him still." Read more»

This was a heinous and cowardly act. And given what we now know about what took place, the FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism. It will take time to follow every lead and determine what happened. But we will find out. We will find whoever harmed our citizens and we will bring them to justice. (with video) Read more»

International Holocaust Remembrance Day: By remaining vigilant against those who seek to perpetrate violence and murder, we honor those we lost during one of the darkest periods in human history. And we keep their memory alive for generations to come. Read more»