--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to put America's security first…" description: "\"We have to put America's security first. The American people - we on this stage need to open our ears. We need to open our ears. The American people ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/chris-christie-1382_america_we-have-to-put-america-s-security-first_2512488.jpg" --- # We have to put America's security first. The American… ![“We have to put America's security first. The American people - we on this stage need to open our ears. We need to open our ears. The American people are not whispering to us. They are screaming to us. And they're screaming to us that it's our job to actually make this government work.It's so…” quote by Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/chris-christie-1382_america_we-have-to-put-america-s-security-first_2512488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/chris-christie-1382_america_we-have-to-put-america-s-security-first_2512488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/chris-christie-1382_america_we-have-to-put-america-s-security-first_2512488.jpg) > “We have to put America's security first. The American people - we on this stage need to open our ears. We need to open our ears. The American people are not whispering to us. They are screaming to us. And they're screaming to us that it's our job to actually make this government work.It's so dysfunctional under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. It's so ineffective. It's so ineffectual that the American people say, we don't trust them to do anything anymore. So I'm not going to let Syrian refugees, any Syrian refugees in this country.” [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that national security must be prioritized, claiming the public demands decisive government action and expressing distrust in previous administrations, while opposing Syrian refugees. **In simple terms:** Prioritize security and heed public demand for effective government, rejecting refugees. Key Takeaway Focus on security, reject refugees. Themes Prioritize security reject refugees demand government effectiveness Mood Urgent critical confrontational Type Political persuasive warning When to use this quote - Political rally - policy debate - public address Key Concepts National security public trust immigration policy Questions to Reflect On - How should security concerns be balanced with humanitarian duties? - What alternatives exist to address perceived government dysfunction? A Different Perspective Potential conflict with humanitarian obligations; impact on refugee rights ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-work/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Refugee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refugee/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Syrian refugees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syrian-refugees/) [Whispering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whispering/) ## Related quotes > [We have to stop the killing. We need to let the refugees - we need to let Syrian citizens go home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/we-have-to-stop-the-killing-we-need-to-let-the-refugees-we-need-to/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'd love to explore South America, but the security issues worry me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-d-love-to-explore-south-america-but-the-security-issues-worry-me/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [America's security and prosperity didn't work unless other nations were also secure, and prosperous. There had to be something in it for them, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/america-s-security-and-prosperity-didn-t-work-unless-other-nations/) [Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/) > [A free and democratic Arab world aligns with America's security interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/a-free-and-democratic-arab-world-aligns-with-america-s-security/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [To protect America's security, we are going to have to pull America's military out of the swamp of Washington politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-thornberry/to-protect-america-s-security-we-are-going-to-have-to-pull-america-s/) [Mac Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-thornberry/) > [The fact that the president was willing to reveal classified information for political gain and put the interests of his political party ahead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/the-fact-that-the-president-was-willing-to-reveal-classified/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [Air power alone does not guarantee America's security, but I believe it best exploits the nation's greatest asset - our technical skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyt-vandenberg/air-power-alone-does-not-guarantee-america-s-security-but-i-believe/) Hoyt Vandenberg > [The House Armed Services Committee is critically important not only to America's security and future, but also to the people of Texas' 13th Congressional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/the-house-armed-services-committee-is-critically-important-not-only/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [The chief duty of our federal government is the safety and security of the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-mcsally/the-chief-duty-of-our-federal-government-is-the-safety-and-security/) [Martha McSally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-mcsally/) > [Even if it were, you run into the same problem with international commerce: if you create a device that is famous for compromised security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/even-if-it-were-you-run-into-the-same-problem-with-international/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [President Trump has no higher priority than the safety and security of the American people. And he made it clear in this election, particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/president-trump-has-no-higher-priority-than-the-safety-and-security/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [ \[T\]he course of this nation does not depend on the decisions of others. Whatever action is required, whenever action is necessary, I will defend… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/t-he-course-of-this-nation-does-not-depend-on-the-decisions-of-others/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-will-not-forget-this-wound-to-our-country-or-those-who-inflicted-it/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [President Trump's made it clear that his administration is going to put the safety and security of the American people first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/president-trump-s-made-it-clear-that-his-administration-is-going-to/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The most important responsibility of our government is to ensure the security of the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/the-most-important-responsibility-of-our-government-is-to-ensure-the/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) ## More by Chris Christie > [New Jersey was threatened like no other region in this country and what we did was we took action within the constitution to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/new-jersey-was-threatened-like-no-other-region-in-this-country-and/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I am not going to make any commitments to the teachers union to do anything until they do something that's other than in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-am-not-going-to-make-any-commitments-to-the-teachers-union-to-do/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [This is a difference between being a governor and being in a legislature. Because when something doesn't work in New Jersey, they look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/this-is-a-difference-between-being-a-governor-and-being-in-a/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I'm going to be specific so you can render your verdict. Let's go to North Africa, she was the chief engineer of the disastrous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-m-going-to-be-specific-so-you-can-render-your-verdict-let-s-go-to/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [The rule for effective governance is simple. It is one Ronald Reagan knew by heart. And one that he successfully employed with Social Security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/the-rule-for-effective-governance-is-simple-it-is-one-ronald-reagan/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [Hillary Clinton: putting big government spending financed by the Chinese ahead of good-paying jobs for middle-class Americans. Is she guilty or not guilty?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/hillary-clinton-putting-big-government-spending-financed-by-the/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [If I had the choice now, I'd make New Jersey a state where you can have a shall issue on conceal and carry. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/if-i-had-the-choice-now-i-d-make-new-jersey-a-state-where-you-can/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I've always said there is a boulevard that exists between compromising your principles and getting everything you want. Now, we should never compromise our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-ve-always-said-there-is-a-boulevard-that-exists-between/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [When people run a business and open their door to the public, they must serve the public. That doesn't mean they can't say whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/when-people-run-a-business-and-open-their-door-to-the-public-they/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I think Gingrich has embarrassed the party over time. Whether he'll do it again in the future, I don't know. But Gov. Romney never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-think-gingrich-has-embarrassed-the-party-over-time-whether-he-ll-do/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I don't compromise my principles for politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-don-t-compromise-my-principles-for-politics/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [Only in America, where someone like me could have the opportunity to seek the highest office the world has to offer. Not only can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/only-in-america-where-someone-like-me-could-have-the-opportunity-to/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [Sometimes people need to be told to sit down and shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/sometimes-people-need-to-be-told-to-sit-down-and-shut-up/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [It is our obligation to stop Hillary Clinton now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/it-is-our-obligation-to-stop-hillary-clinton-now/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [Hillary Clinton said there was no marked classified information on her server. The FBI Director said that's untrue.She said that she did not email…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/hillary-clinton-said-there-was-no-marked-classified-information-on/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) [Explore all 248 Chris Christie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have to put America's security first. The American people - we on this stage need to open our ears. We need to open our ears. The American people are not whispering to us. They are screaming to us. 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