“America 250: Presidential Message on Mark Twain’s 190th Birthday”

The message commemorates the 190th birthday of Mark Twain, calling him the “father of American literature” and praising his:

• Wit, wisdom, and honesty,
• Ability to turn everyday life into timeless stories,
• Embodiment of the American spirit: daring, defiance, courage, confidence, excellence, and adventure.

• Born Samuel Clemens, raised in Hannibal, Missouri, inspired by the Mississippi River.

• Worked as a printer’s apprentice, riverboat pilot, and silver miner before becoming a writer.

• These experiences shaped his:

  • Sharp humor,
  • Plainspoken wisdom,
  • Unforgettable characters,
    making him one of America’s most beloved voices.

• He lived through:

  • The Civil War,
  • Reconstruction,
  • The Industrial Age,
    and used his writing to capture a nation finding its identity and to give voice to “forgotten Americans.”

• Through works like “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “The Innocents Abroad”, he portrayed:

  • The humor, hardship, and hope of his era and of the American people.

• The message emphasizes that:

  • “His humor was honest, his honesty was humorous,”
  • And both were bold, unapologetic, and distinctly American.

• Quotes Twain: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

• Says this is reflected in the Trump Administration’s approach “from the very first day”:

  • Revitalizing the economy,
  • Lowering prices and cost of living,
  • Securing “the safest border in history”,
  • Brokering peace deals around the globe,
  • Restoring law and order,
  • Rebuilding American strength,
  • Renewing pride in American values.

• Frames these actions as fulfilling Twain’s “hope” for an America that measures greatness not by the illusion he called the “Gilded Age”, but by a “Golden Age” of prosperity for all Americans—tying the tribute into the broader America 250 theme as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary.

Mark Twain’s Life and WorkConnection to the Trump Administration and America 250