Remarks transcript, Jun 22, 2026 (Donald Trump)

Hello. Hello, everybody. Thank you very much.

And today I'm signing two very important Executive orders on quantum technologies that will strengthen America's place as the world leader in this very important emerging field.

I want to thank Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who's with us; Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick; Secretary of Energy Chris Wright; Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Michael Kratsios. Thank you, Michael.

Director of OMB Russ Vought, who's cutting the budget by probably 40 to 50 percent this year. [ Laughter ] We're going to end up with a balanced budget. And National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross.

And I appreciate all of you being here.

Thanks as well to Chief Technology Officer of the United States Dr. Ethan Klein—Ethan, thank you very much; Director of the National Quantum Coordination Office Dr. Brad Blakestad; and Chief Information Officer of the Federal Government Greg Barbaccia, for joining us today. Thank you very much, fellas. That's great.

We're also honored to be joined by Google President Ruth Porat. That's a big position, I'll tell you. Google. [ Laughter ] Google president—that's as big as being President of the country, I think.

Well, not quite.

That's pretty good. [ Laughter ] There aren't too many.

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, who's a great man, who's done a really great job. What a job you've done.

Thank you.

I used to have that stock when it was much, much lower. [ Laughter ] I brilliantly sold it when I became President. That was not a good move.

And Infleqtion CEO Matthew Kinsella, as well as Nobel Prize–winning quantum physicist John Martinis. Great going.

Should you tell them how many years ago it was?

Well, about 40 years ago.

That's pretty good.

Yes.

And you still look good.

Thank you. [ Laughter ]

Great job.

I've been waiting for one of them too. They don't think eight wars is enough, you know? I think—I have to do 12 or 13, I think, even though nobody's ever done one.

Quantum technologies represents the next generation of innovation across computing, sensing, and networking, with enormous significance for our country's economic growth, scientific research, and cyber security. It's really a big deal that we're doing today, and the country is doing really well, as you know.

In 2018, I signed the National Quantum Initiative Act into law, which led to doubling the Federal Government investment in quantum research and development. I think you all know about that. That helped unleash billions of dollars of private investment in America's quantum industrial base, promoting significant scientific and technological progress, like—progress like we've never seen before, actually. We want to keep that positive momentum going in America with the orders that I'm signing today.

And these will really have a—I think, place it a big step forward. We're already the leader by a lot, and we're going to be now the leader by a lot more.

The first Executive order launches a national effort to produce a quantum computer capable of performing important scientific calculations and to develop quantum-enabled sensors and networks in the next 5 years. And we're going to be investing in American quantum leadership like never before to stay ahead of the pack. We're way ahead right now. We'll keep it that way.

The second order I'm signing directs Federal agency to transition to what is called quantum cryptography. Do—anybody know what that is? You're going to hear very soon, so you're going to find it interesting. Cryptography—for their computer systems by 2031 and to lead the way for wider adoption of these extremely strong security standards.

America is celebrating 250 years of ingenuity, innovation, and invention this year. And today's commitments to quantum leadership will help secure that legacy for decades to come.

I just want to say, before we introduce a couple of the people, we're doing very well with respect to the Hormuz Strait. We took in more oil yesterday than we've ever—than has ever gone through the Strait. You probably see that. We have an—we have an oil gusher. The Strait is totally open. You know that.

And we're negotiating. We'll see how that all goes. But we have two things: We have an open Strait, and we have a country that will never have a nuclear weapon—will never, ever have a nuclear weapon.

So now I'd like to invite Michael Kratsios, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, to say a few words followed by National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross and Secretary Wright, who's doing a fantastic job over in Venezuela and every place else he touches.

Venezuela, by the way, has been amazing. We are really having a great relationship with that country, taking out tremendous amounts of oil—far, far more than that particular war cost—many, many times—sending it to Houston, sending it to Louisiana, sending it to lots of places. And Venezuela is also doing well. Venezuela is doing better than it's done in maybe ever. So it's been an amazing—it's been an amazing situation.

Where did you ever hear of getting money back for the war by 42 times over? Right, Pete?

Yes, sir.

Nobody does that.

And I think Iran, I can say, on a sort of a different scale is, in its own way, working out very well. Maybe it's hard to say just as well, but maybe almost just as well. And we're doing very well in terms of negotiating a fair and reasonable deal.

One of the things that we are doing also—and it came up last night—is money that's being unfrozen is going to be used to buy food, and the food's going to be bought exclusively through the United States from our farmers. And corn, soybeans—all of the things they need are going to be bought from our farmers. So our farmers are very happy. I've had a lot of calls. They were very happy about that.

So now I'd like to ask Michael to say a few words, and we'll follow up by the other two gentlemen—or three gentlemen. And then, if anybody has anything to say—and we'll take some questions at the end.

So Michael, go ahead.

So Mr. President, as you mentioned in your remarks, you were the first President history to prioritize quantum as a scientific priority of the United States Government in your first administration. And since then, there's been a big leap in the investment the private sector has made in this particular domain.

And we're now at the moment where a lot of that research is starting to pay off into commercial applications. And what this Executive order will do is turbocharge that.

First and foremost, it's going to task the Department of Energy to create a scientifically relevant quantum computer, which is going to help pave the way for even larger computers for the private sector.

Secondly, we're going to be focusing on sensors and networking. So agencies like Department of War, along with Department of Energy, are going to be doing a wide variety of sensing and networking work.

So this is a big step forward, and as one of our two top science technology priorities, we're excited to kick things off today.

Good. Thank you very much. Good job, Michael.

Sean, please.

Yes. Thank you, sir.

You continue to be the most forward-leaning President in innovation in American history.

Is that all? [ Laughter ]

That's—it. That's it, sir. [ Laughter ]

But—no. And while you recognize the tremendous potential quantum has to advance medical research and cryptography and improve the lives of American people, you also recognize the security implications.

As quantum rolls forward, it will challenge public key cryptography, which is what secures everything. It secures our financial transactions, our civilian critical infrastructure, and it secures the digital systems that Americans rely on for their daily life. And these two Executive orders, which pair innovation and security, will address those issues.

As we move forward, innovation and security have to be balanced. You recognize that.

The actions that you take today will make sure that American systems are trusted and secure and safe moving forward. And I just want to thank our tremendous American companies with whom we've been working so closely. I think it's fair to say we have an unprecedented relationship in this.

I want to thank our colleagues in the interagency who have been tremendously—it's such a mission-focused group of people.

And obviously, none of this happens, sir, without your leadership.

Yes.

So you're securing our systems for generations to come.

Thank you.

And you've done a great job. All of you have, actually.

Chris Wright, please.

Yes, thank you, Mr. President.

So, a hundred—a hundred twenty—141 years ago, Albert Einstein—121 years ago, Albert Einstein published a paper—

Nobody cares. [ Laughter ]

Good point. Good point.

I never go back. I just—and usually, they won't catch you, but—

Go ahead.

Published a paper on the photoelectric effect, recognizing the quantum behavior of light—that it came in quanta.

Forty years after that, President Trump's uncle, John Trump, was a pioneer in applying light radiation and the reflections of it to develop radar at the MIT Radiation Lab—critical in D-day, critical in the end in winning World War II.

That's the parallel of quantum innovation.

Forty years after that, John Martinis—down there—pioneered taking quantum effects and building them into a device to capture that behavior. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics just last year for that discovery, that breakthrough.

But 40 years, quantum phenomena are tough to harvest and tough to work with. But here we are, thanks to President Trump's leadership in the first term, with Director Kratsios, to launch a major national effort on quantum.

This is taking it to the next level.

The future of computing is going to be a three-legged stool. It's high-performance computing, basically Moore's Law in semiconductor manufacturing. It's artificial intelligence that everyone's seeing and hearing about that's supercharging it. The third leg of that computing stool is going to be scientifically relevant quantum computing.

This is tricky. We're not there yet. We're close, but with this Executive order and this coordinated effort, we will have scientifically relevant, meaning error-corrected quantum computing during this administration. The impacts of it will be tremendous.

Just, if I might. So, with respect to the Strait—Hormuz Strait. A lot of oil pouring out, right?

A lot of oil pouring out. Despite Iran's efforts or pushback, we are flowing oil through the Strait of Hormuz and natural gas at precrisis levels.

We could get to above that. We will get to above that. But things today are going very well thanks to the U.S. military and Pete Hegseth down the line here.

And, 2 days ago, we set a record: most ever taken out of the Strait. It's pent up, but it's a record.

Did you know of my uncle at all?

No. No, I didn't.

You didn't?

No. Sorry.

Oh. [ Laughter ] Too bad. You missed a good man.

Would you like——

I'm at Berkeley. Berkeley and MIT——

Oh, but MIT is—[ inaudible ]. They're—[ inaudible ]. [ Laughter ]

Howard, do you want to say something?

Yes.

Yes.

So you're—you're accelerating quantum with this EO, pushing—continuing to push America forward.

Now, I have the honor that John Martinis was a member of the Commerce Department——

Yes.

Oh.

——and NIST, and he's a Nobel Prize–winning alum, which is, if you—don't think that people in the Commerce Department and in NIST are the best, I mean, here's an example. A Nobel Prize winner was part of our team.

You all know that the Government invested $2 billion just a couple of weeks ago in quantum to drive it forward. And besides investing in the companies, we've also invested in fabs to build quantum for others so we can manufacture these quantum in America.

Now, you have Ruth Porat from—from Alphabet. They are doing amazing investing in building quantum.

And you have Arvind right next, from IBM. We invested in his fab. He's got a leading fab, so he's going to be building those chips, right? So that's that idea.

And then, lastly, postquantum cryptography, right? Once you have quantum chips, we've got to protect everyone in this Government. Postquantum cryptography—so NIST and the Department of Commerce is going to lead the charge to make sure all of us are protected and defended so we know how to deal with quantum when it comes.

We're going to lead in quantum, and we're going to make sure we stay safe. And these are both the things you're signing today, and that's why you have such an amazing team behind you: because you are leading the charge in quantum for America.

And, Ruth, would you like to say something? Google.

Well, thank you. First, thank you so much for convening us for this important meeting and these two Executive orders. We completely agree quantum is a breakthrough critical technology. The U.S. is in the lead. We will stay in the lead.

At Google, we're really proud of our innovations. And thank you, Secretary Lutnick. We've been investing for more than a decade in quantum. And, back in 2019, we were the first company actually to achieve quantum supremacy. Didn't stop there.

About a year and a half ago, we unveiled a new chip, the Willow chip, which is a great example of American innovation manufactured here in the United States. And what the Willow chip does, it is—it enabled us to do a computation in less than 5 minutes that previously, on the best supercomputer, would have taken 10 septillion years——

Wow. [ Laughter ]

——which is 1 with 25 zeroes.

That's pretty good.

So it's a lot. It's a lot. And what's exciting about this is what it means for our children and grandchildren. It's about medical breakthroughs, nuclear fusion——

Yes.

——material science. So we're really excited about the opportunity.

And then, also, around postquantum cryptography and the work that we're doing there—absolutely critical that we also keep America safe, everyone safe. So we have been deploying that across our products and services, and it's a critical opportunity. I think, with these two EOS, it lays the foundation for, one, protecting America, as well as continuing to benefit on the upside.

It's great to be here. Thank you.

Tremendous. Say hello to everybody, please. Will you?

I absolutely will.

Arvind, please. IBM.

So first, I'd like to thank the President for both of these EOs. The role of the Government is often underestimated. The role of the Government in pushing innovation and technology forward is what both of these will achieve.

Asking for the investment in quantum computing, asking that the departments all work together will actually accelerate what industry does, because that gives us the confidence to invest even more, and that is what we commit to do to get these systems out and to get what both the Secretaries asked for: to get the systems out during your current term.

So we will——

Yes.

——go and invest in doing that.

And I'd also like to thank Commerce for the investment they made in accelerating the ability to build fabs so that we can actually make these in America.

Good. Thank you very much.

Would you like to say something, Russell, about——

Sure.

——how well we're doing on the budget and things?

Well, we're making tons of progress. I think, last year, you had the most fiscally consequential year in history—a story that's largely been unwritten—but today this is about—

They don't want to write it.

They won't write it.

They don't want—it's true.

Go ahead.

——more savings in history——

You might as well say it, because they won't.

——more savings than ever before in history. Today is about the investments that we're going to prioritize. So we'll save in places, but we're going to do what's necessary to invest in the future and industries of the future. That's what today is about. Quantum is one of those areas in the first term, and now in the second term.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you, everybody.

Any questions, please? Or of people?

Please.

Mr. President, Treasury lifted its sanctions on Iranian oil today, sir. Treasury—lifted sanctions on Iranian oil today, sir.

Well, I'm going have to find out exactly the status, but if the sanctions go out, money is going to be put into this country. All that money is coming back in the form of purchases of food, which they desperately need. They have 91 million people. They can't feed them. So the money that we lift is going to go to our farmers, largely to our farmers.

Can you ensure that the Iranians won't use profits from oil sales to rebuild their military and just prepare for the next conflict?

Well, they're not supposed to be doing that. So we'll see, but they're supposed to use money to buy food for their people, because right now their people are very hungry, and they're buying it exclusively from us: corn, soybeans. Going to—it should be a lot of money. I hope it's a lot of money.

If the war with Iran could cause a worldwide depression, as you noted, Mr. President, are you willing to risk economic catastrophe and strike Iran again?

Well, not the way I'm doing it.

Not the way you're doing——

It's not going to cause depression.

If—yes, but if they don't abide by the memorandum of understanding.

Well, a nuclear weapon supersedes depression. Depression is real bad. Nuclear weapon will cause depression much more quickly.

The way we're doing it, we have the opposite of a depression. We're doing really well. The numbers are incredible. The oil is at a level that nobody's ever seen before. Oil prices are way down. I think they're very comparable to what they were.

Chris, I don't know, pretty comparable to what they were before we started, right? I——

They've returned most of the way back down.

Yes.

So if Iran does not abide by the MOU, are you still willing for strikes——