good 21st speech

Cheers to 21 Years: Speech Writing Tips for the Perfect 21st Birthday Toast

Stepping into the age of 21 is a significant milestone – a transition from adolescence to adulthood, a moment to celebrate achievements, and an opportunity to look forward to the adventures that lie ahead. If you find yourself tasked with delivering the perfect 21st birthday toast, fear not! In this article, we’ll explore speech writing tips that will help you craft a memorable and heartfelt toast that captures the essence of the occasion.

Start with a Warm Greeting: Setting the Tone

Begin your toast with a warm and genuine greeting to acknowledge the birthday celebrant. Consider incorporating a personal anecdote or a shared memory that highlights the significance of the day. Connecting with the audience from the start will create a comfortable and engaging atmosphere.

Reflect on Milestones: Celebrating Achievements

Take a moment to reflect on the achievements and milestones of the birthday honoree. Whether it’s academic accomplishments, personal growth, or unique experiences, acknowledge the journey that has led them to this moment. Highlighting these successes adds depth to the toast and underscores the significance of turning 21.

Share Anecdotes and Memories: Adding Personal Touches

Infuse your toast with personal anecdotes and cherished memories that showcase the celebrant’s personality, quirks, and positive qualities. Whether it’s a funny story from the past or a heartwarming moment, sharing personal experiences will resonate with the audience and make the toast more relatable.

Express Gratitude: Acknowledging Friends and Family

Acknowledge the importance of friends and family in the celebrant’s life. Express gratitude for the support, love, and shared experiences that have enriched their journey. This not only highlights the value of relationships but also involves the audience in the celebration.

Look to the Future: Embracing the Next Chapter

As the celebrant embarks on the journey of adulthood, express optimism and excitement for the future. Offer words of encouragement, share aspirations, and convey confidence in their ability to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This forward-looking perspective adds a hopeful and inspirational touch to the toast.

Inject Humor: Keeping the Atmosphere Light

A touch of humor can enhance the toast, creating a lighthearted and enjoyable atmosphere. Incorporate witty remarks or funny anecdotes that celebrate the celebrant’s sense of humor or playfully tease them in good spirits. Just ensure that the humor aligns with the celebrant’s personality and the tone of the celebration.

End with a Toast: Raising Your Glass to 21 Years

Conclude your speech by proposing a heartfelt toast. Encourage everyone to raise their glasses in celebration of the birthday honoree’s journey and the exciting years that lie ahead. A well-crafted toast not only wraps up the speech on a positive note but also invites everyone to actively participate in the celebration.

Crafting the perfect 21st birthday toast is an opportunity to celebrate the individual, share memories, and inspire hope for the future. By incorporating personal touches, expressing gratitude, and infusing humor, your toast can resonate with the audience and make the celebration truly memorable. So, raise your glass, offer your best wishes, and let your words create a moment that the birthday celebrant will cherish for years to come. Cheers to 21 years!

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How to nail your 21st birthday party speech

21st birthday parties  are a big deal, not to mention the all-important speech. It’s a tricky one: how do you find that perfect balance of sassy sarcasm and a serious expression of gratitude for the people around you? At  VenueNow , we’ve all been through it! And our crack team of venue experts plenty of tips to ensure you nail your have 21st birthday party speech.

It’s the milestone birthday that you’ve been waiting 20 long years to celebrate, and EVERYONE is going to be there to celebrate your significant milestone. Your best mates, oldest friends, new beau and extended family are expecting you to be on-game for the big occasion.

You definitely don’t want to slip up when it gets to crunch time, so how do you avoid a flop during your birthday speech? There are a few things you can do to make sure you rise to the occasion and deliver a tasteful speech that will be remembered. A few words of thanks are the least you can do; so let’s figure out how to make that moment a memorable one, and start with these tips.

Be prepared

The party is in full swing, you’re lost for the right words, but everyone is egging you on. This scene is very common, but it’s not where you want to be on the big day. Prepare your 21st birthday speech well ahead of time and practice it at least a few times before presenting it to the party. The most effective way to get your entire speech into your head is to practice!

If you’re forgetful, a little vague, or know you’re not a great speaker, it’s definitely worth having notes to prompt you during the speech. Some people prefer to write their speech out word-for-word to maximise efficiency and minimise the chance of forgetting key details, but your speech will actually flow better, and be heaps more engaging if you’re not looking down at a page for the entire time.

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Thank the key players

Your 21st birthday party speech isn’t a chore, but an opportunity to acknowledge the things and people that have made you the adult that you’ve become. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and forget to thank the key players in the narrative that is your life. Your birthday speech is a great way to express gratitude to your family and friends for their endless support. To ensure you don’t forget to acknowledge mum and dad, a family member, your oldest pals, your best friend, or your lover, position the thank-yous at the start of your speech. It will be a great joy to watch their faces light up when you thank them.

Funny comes naturally to some of us, but if you’re not blessed with the humour gene, it’s easy to get some laughs with an anecdote from your past. Think of the time you laughed the hardest, the dumbest thing you did on that Contiki tour across Europe, or the holiday that went horribly wrong, then build a story around it to include in your speech. The trick here is to tell a genuinely hilarious story but avoid offending anyone in attendance. Your own speech should be cheeky but don’t cross a line when talking about people in your life.

The first time you got wasted and threw up on mum’s favourite gnome may be funny for some, but if your elderly grandparents are around, you’ll completely spoil their image of you as the angelic, innocent grandchild. Instead, have a dig at yourself, and try including an anecdote about that time you failed to read 24-hour time and ended up stranded at a bus stop in sleepy Somerset at 2 am on the last day of your holiday.

Know your audience and craft a speech with tasteful humour that will get the laughs, not the room-silencing, disapproving glares on your very day.

Choose your topic

Say something meaningful, interesting and relevant to your audience. Choose a topic that you know your guests can relate to, like the importance of friendship, lessons you’ve learnt over the past year or how much you’ve matured as a person since turning 21. Alternatively, if you want to keep it light-hearted and fun, tell a few stories about your most cherished memories from childhood, or how you’ve been affected by the people in your life. Keep it short and sweet, but make sure that every sentence packs a punch and resonates with your audience.

Say your birthday wish

Be sure to include your birthday wish in your speech as well. Make a thoughtful and heartfelt request or hope for the year ahead, be it world peace, an end to poverty or an abundance of career opportunities. And if you’re feeling brave, make it unique and personal like a romantic gesture or a plea for never-ending friendship!

While your guests are definitely expecting a speech on your special day, they’re not here to listen to you mumble about the great life that you live or tell dumb long-winded stories about the people that you love. They’re here to party, and party they will, as long as you don’t kill the vibe with an uncomfortable speech.

After a few drinks, and a bit of dancing, the attention span of your mates is likely to dwindle, so it’s important to keep things brief. Stick to a couple of minutes, and prepare a dancey playlist to lift the atmosphere and get the dance floor going post-speech.

The best speeches are those that are obviously prepared but allow room for a little flexibility. Who knows what’ll happen on the day. Your best mate or mum might interrupt with their own anecdote just as you’re getting to the best bit.

If your nearest and dearest are a talkative bunch, let them know your plan before the big day so that you (and your guests) are not bombarded with five boring, overly sappy speeches. This situation is a guaranteed mood killer and a sure-fire way to have your 21st birthday party remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Brace yourself, praise your party, cut the crap and add a bit of humour. You’ll be nailing that 21st birthday party speech in no time at all! Happy birthday!

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21st Birthday Speech

Amy has a B.A. in Communications and has worked in a wide variety of industries.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Toast your friend or family member on his birthday with a great speech that celebrates what turning 21 is all about. Whether your friend is planning to have a few drinks or just wants to celebrate this milestone occasion, tailor your speech to suit your friend's birthday style. Each speech is editable and can be downloaded using Adobe Reader .

Make Your 21st Memorable Speech

A 21st birthday is often one that stands out in people's minds for years, simply because of the milestone year. For a fun-loving birthday gal or guy who is excited to have a first alcoholic drink, this is definitely one s/he will remember for years. Bring up some past birthday moments and allude to making more in your speech.

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Exciting Adulthood Ahead Speech

Not every 21-year-old is going to have a birthday bash that involves a wild party. Instead, they may simply want a low-key adult birthday party. A speech for this celebrating 20-something and friends can focus on their full entrance to adulthood, past accomplishments, and future endeavors. It should be optimistic and celebratory.

Tips for Customizing Your Speech

Tailor the speech to suit your friend's personality and the specific party theme. For example:

• At a party with a theme, such as tropical oasis or retro 90s, tie the speech into the theme. Work in related phrases and even rhymes!
• For a truly unique birthday speech, consider writing a list of 21 "things" about your friend or family member. This could be related to anything; for example, you could talk about 21 funny moments in their life or 21 things you love about him or her.
• Don't make too many jokes about drinking unless you know it's okay with the birthday person. This can be something he or she is worried or nervous about, and you don't want to add stress to the event.
• Keep things clean; don't include raunchy or risque jokes, even among friends at a party where people are imbibing. You don't want to give a speech in poor taste, especially if someone is recording the event.
• End the speech by raising your glass in a toast. If the birthday person isn't a drinker, end by wishing him or her Happy Birthday and invite others to join you.

Toasting the 21st Birthday

A great birthday speech for a 21st birthday is one that honors the birthday person and suits his or her personality. Add a few light-hearted jokes, and you're sure to give a speech that makes them feel great about this milestone celebration.

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Free 21st Birthday Speeches - Celebrate in Style

Free 21st birthday speeches - celebrate this magical milestone in style.

Less can sometimes be more - especially at a 21st birthday party where speeches have the potential to overwhelm the occasion.

Free 21st Birthday Speeches

A meaningful 21st birthday speech to honor and celebrate a great day is a necessity. But, let's face it, everyone wants to party!

And why not - champagne, flowers, innovative 21st birthday gift ideas to surprise your friends and loved ones , excellent catering and creative decor design -  they all come together to create a night to remember.

So, keep it short and simple - then let the party begin!

Good evening Ladies, Gentlemen, family and friends -

What a truly special evening it is that we are celebrating this evening - an evening all the more special  because we are sharing this celebration with all of you.

A warm welcome to everyone and thank you so much for sharing [insert name]'s 21st birthday with us tonight. It just wouldn't have been the same without all of you - all the people who have played such an amazing role in [his / her] life.

Tonight is [insert name] night and we hope it will be a night that [he / she] remembers fondly in the years ahead.

Twenty one years have seen [insert name ] through many milestones. We've seen [his /her] baby years turning into toddling years. We've seen [insert name] learning to talk and walk - unsteadily at first but growing in confidence daily.

And those determined  footsteps have continued through elementary and secondary school,  through sporting teams and academic achievements. We seen obstacles overcome and accolades accomplished and we've witnessed such remarkable growth and development in every facet of [insert name] life.  * [highlight some of their achievements here to make your speech personal and meaningful]

Daily, incrementally and exponentially,  we've seen [insert name] walking steadfast and purposefully through tears and laughter, in and out of relationships and onwards towards [his / her] goals still to be achieved.

Through all of these magical milestone [insert name] has remained positive and empathetic.  [He / She]  embodies a passion and zest for life that is infectious and we have all shared in these moments - they have been magical and many and everyday!

What an honor and a privilege it has been to witness this amazing young [man / lady] and their journey  towards adulthood. And tonight, [insert name] as you stand on the brink of a new chapter in your life, please know that we are so incredibly proud of you and we love you.

May you continue to walk as sure-footed as you always have, may you remain as grounded as you have always been...and may you stay in mind and spirit, forever young .

Happy birthday!

Free 21st birthday speeches - done and dusted.

Now get to work on buying or making an incredible dress or tuxedo for that million dollar babe[or dude]look and planning a great party with easy party ideas and games - your complete guide to the perfect party or birthday with fun games, themes, invitations, recipes and more!

Let's not forget an amazing birthday cake and candles. All about Cupcakes has creative and innovative ideas to further enhance what is going to be a very special evening .

Return from Free 21st Birthday Speeches to Words of Wisdom 40th Birthday Speech - Flaunting Fabulous Forties Birthday Card Sayings - Congratulate and Celebrate Birthday Wishes Sample - Fellowship and Celebratory Words Funny Birthday Sayings - Congratulations... Subtle And Tasteful Humor Birthday Phrases - Here's To A Great Day Free Birthday Speech - Creating Carefree Celebrations Happy Birthday Quotes - Famous Words Of Wisdom

Cheers To You! Your Guide To Your 21st Birthday Speech

• February 16, 2022

Congratulations! You will soon turn 21 and brace yourself up for the rest of your adult life. Your 18th birthday was unique because you reached the age of majority and became a legal adult. But your 21st birthday is a big deal, and not to forget your speech.

Writing your 21st birthday speech can be a daunting task as you have hit a significant milestone. As your friends and loved ones gear up to celebrate your special day, this is an opportunity to share exciting anecdotes with them and show them you care.

If you are wondering how to put it all together, don’t worry, as we have some fantastic tips that will make your 21st birthday speech unforgettable.

Why Your 21st Birthday Should Be Memorable

Youngsters are very excited to turn 21 as this is the age where you are officially a responsible adult. From a historical perspective, the 21st birthday was celebrated as a momentous occasion during mediaeval times when a boy became a knight . However, 21st birthdays are no longer gender exclusive but are still considered a significant milestone. Traditionally young people were given the key to the family’s house at 21, making the event all the more special.

Enhance Your 21st Birthday Speech with These Amazing Tips!

Your 21st birthday speech should charm your audience and make your special occasion memorable. If you are looking for some terrific 21st birthday speech ideas, follow these tips to enthral your audience.

Be Prepared and Write It All Down

Make a list of all the wishes, memories, and sentiments you want to include in your speech. This will give you a clue on what you want to focus on in your speech. Once you have listed all the points, you can elaborate on them.

Prepare your speech in advance and practice it a couple of times till you are confident of presenting it to friends and family. If you think that you might forget something, write your speech word-to-word so that you don’t miss out on anything. But make sure not to read out the entire speech from the paper as your guests might die of boredom!

Let Everyone Get a Few Drinks In

Give everyone some time to sit back and enjoy so that they are ready to get entertained. Your jokes will seem funnier once your mates chug a few beers and loosen up.

Thank the Key Players

So many people, including your parents, siblings, and friends, have come together to make this occasion memorable. It is good to start your speech by thanking all the guests for coming. Make sure that you thank the host and let everyone know that you appreciate their efforts. After all, gratitude nurtures your relationships.

Chuck In a Joke

Grab some eyeballs with a funny anecdote ; after all, everyone is here to enjoy your special evening.

It’s okay if humour doesn’t come naturally to you; think about the last time you laughed uncontrollably. Share one of the dumbest things you did on a trip or a plan that went incredibly wrong, and you will take the entertainment quotient up a notch! But make sure not to crack a joke that offends anyone.

Here are a few sample funny 21st birthday speech ideas:

“Happy 21st birthday to my best friend/sibling/child! I can’t believe you’re finally legal… now we can get into all sorts of trouble together! Just kidding, please don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Or wait, scratch that. Do everything I wouldn’t do because that’s probably more fun. Either way, happy birthday and here’s to many more years of mischief and mayhem!”

“Welcome to the adult world, [name]! It’s a weird place filled with responsibility and boring things like paying bills and doing your own laundry. But on the bright side, you can finally drink alcohol! Just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone pukes on the carpet. Happy 21st birthday!”

“Happy 21st birthday, [name]! You’re finally old enough to do all the things your parents told you not to do when you were younger. Just kidding, please don’t actually do those things. But on a serious note, congratulations on reaching this milestone and cheers to many more years of good times ahead!”

Show Sincerity

It is good to have some kind words at the end of your speech. You can share briefly how your friends and family have added meaning to your life and show how much you care for all the people who’ve gathered to make your birthday memorable.

Keep Your Birthday Speech Short

Make your speech short and simple as people have other things vying for their attention. Wondering how long your speech should be? Ideally, it shouldn’t be more than five minutes, so avoid log stories and keep it to the point. Have a party playlist ready, as your guests might be in the mood to hit the dancefloor right after.

Keep Them Wanting More

Twenty-one years is a truly momentous occasion, and you can make it all the more special with a short and exciting speech. Your birthday speech is a great way to express gratitude to your family and friends for their endless support. Moreover, you can also share your future plans with them. The best advice is to make it crisp, straightforward, and funny.

Are you looking for the perfect venue for your 21st birthday bash? We manage all the nitty-gritty details so that you can have a fun bash! Check out Navarra Venues for Hire in Sydney to celebrate in style.

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24 Tips For The Perfect 21st Birthday Speech

21st Birthday Speech Writing Tips

Birthdays: cake, presents, parties … speeches. Yep, Dad’s getting on and wants to reminisce, friends are celebrating their 21st birthday party  and want jokes that’ll dull the pain, and your third cousin just wants some filler while the candles are being lit. If you’ve been “privileged” with the task of presenting for a shindig, we’ve lined up a few birthday speech writing tips to keep the event as quick and painless as possible for everyone involved.

Scroll down for more 21st speech writing tips .

Introduction

In the introduction, you should welcome the guests and the guest of honor to the party. You can start by saying a few words about the importance of the 21st birthday milestone and how honored you are to be speaking at the party.

Share Memories

Sharing memories is an excellent way to make your speech more personal and heartfelt. You can share some memories you have of the guest of honor, such as when you first met or a funny story that you both shared.

Highlight Achievements

Turning 21 is a significant milestone, and it is essential to recognize the guest of honor’s achievements so far. You can talk about their academic or professional accomplishments or any personal milestones they have achieved.

Give Advice

As someone who has more life experience, you can offer some advice to the guest of honor. You can share some words of wisdom on how to make the most of their twenties or offer advice on how to overcome challenges they may face.

Humor is an excellent way to keep your speech light-hearted and entertaining. You can tell a funny story or make a joke to break the ice and make the audience laugh.

Share Future Aspirations

It is always inspiring to hear about someone’s future aspirations. You can ask the guest of honor about their goals and dreams and share them with the audience. This will show them that you support their ambitions and encourage them to pursue their passions.

Speak from the Heart

The most important thing to remember when writing a 21st birthday speech is to speak from the heart. Your speech should come from a place of sincerity and authenticity. Don’t be afraid to be emotional and let the guest of honor know how much they mean to you.

Keep it Short and Sweet

It is essential to keep your speech short and sweet. While you want to make sure you cover all the important points, you don’t want to bore the audience. Keep your speech between three to five minutes.

Scan the room

Ask the 21st party planner about the guests rocking up. If toddlers or grandparents with heart conditions are in the front row, you may want to steer clear of any risqué anecdotes. Your buddy’s wife probably doesn’t want to hear an extended speech about his dating record, either. Know your crowd.

Let everyone get a few drinks in

Barring drunk uncle Larry, who’s bound to have tottered in half-cut anyway, most guests will probably take a little while to loosen up. Give them an hour or so to pound back a couple of beers before trying your hand at entertainment. Trust us: the jokes will seem infinitely funnier.

Chuck in a joke

On that note, it’s a good idea to keep 21st birthday speeches light and fluffy. Let’s face it, half the guests are probably annoyed at how long the cake’s taking, and the other half are probably trying to break up a family brawl across the room. A funny speech can set a great vibe and act as a welcome distraction.

Sadly, you’re not immortal

Before you start teasing the birthday boy or girl relentlessly, be aware that you probably don’t have the power to stay 29 forever. Your time will come, and they will find you.

The best speeches for parties and events end with a toast to the guest of honour. Whether that’s in an effort to tug at everyone’s heartstrings or simply dull the pain with a tonne of alcoholic beverages, it doesn’t really matter. Grab a boozy drink, raise your glass, and breathe easy. You’re done.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice is crucial when it comes to delivering a great speech. You should practice your speech several times before the party. This will help you feel more confident and comfortable when you deliver it.

Be Prepared for Last-Minute Changes

It is always best to be prepared for last-minute changes. The party may not go according to plan, and you may need to make some adjustments to your speech on the fly.

Thank the Audience

In the end, make sure you thank the audience for listening to your speech. You can thank them for coming to the party and for supporting the guest of honor.

Our best 21st speech writing tip ? Tell Dad you’re out of town for next year’s festivities.

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Speech Writing Tips For Your 21st Birthday

21st Birthday Speech Writing Tips

Birthdays: cake, presents, parties … speeches. Yep, Dad’s getting on and wants to reminisce, friends are celebrating their 21st birthday party  and want jokes that’ll dull the pain, and your third cousin just wants some filler while the candles are being lit. If you’ve been “privileged” with the task of presenting for a shindig, we’ve lined up a few birthday speech writing tips to keep the event as quick and painless as possible for everyone involved.

Scan the room

Ask the party planner about the guests rocking up. If toddlers or grandparents with heart conditions are in the front row, you may want to steer clear of any risqué anecdotes. Your buddy’s wife probably doesn’t want to hear an extended speech about his dating record, either. Know your crowd.

Let everyone get a few drinks in

Barring drunk uncle Larry, who’s bound to have tottered in half-cut anyway, most guests will probably take a little while to loosen up. Give them an hour or so to pound back a couple of beers before trying your hand at entertainment. Trust us: the jokes will seem infinitely funnier.

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Chuck in a joke

On that note, it’s a good idea to keep birthday speeches light and fluffy. Let’s face it, half the guests are probably annoyed at how long the cake’s taking, and the other half are probably trying to break up a family brawl across the room. A funny speech can set a great vibe and act as a welcome distraction.

Sadly, you’re not immortal

Before you start teasing the birthday boy or girl relentlessly, be aware that you probably don’t have the power to stay 29 forever. Your time will come, and they will find you.

The best speeches end with a toast to the guest of honour. Whether that’s in an effort to tug at everyone’s heartstrings or simply dull the pain with a tonne of alcoholic beverages, it doesn’t really matter. Grab a boozy drink, raise your glass, and breathe easy. You’re done.

Our best tip? Tell Dad you’re out of town for next year’s festivities.

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Birthday speech

Putting a birthday speech together can be a very daunting process, especially if you have to write it for someone else.

Like many of us, unless you have a natural talent, it’s not uncommon to go blank when it comes to this topic. The usual spiel of thanking everyone and telling them to enjoy their night is satisfactory though can be quite boring and leave everyone yawning.

But dont worry, by following these easy tips and examples of speeches, you will be able to ensure your birthday speech is one that captivates your audience and makes the moment a memorable one.

5 tips to help you with your next birthday speech

1. write it all down.

Take a few moments to list all the qualities and funny moments in dot points to give you an understanding of what you want to highlight. After listing them all down, take the time to elaborate on the points.

2. Find a sample speech that works

Find a sample birthday speech that you feel is suitable for the occasion. Use the points and information that you had written previously and incorporate them into the sample speech. By using the sample speech as a template, you have the benefit of following a proven recipe. It allows for the speech to be structured so it becomes fluent and highlights your points more concisely.

3. Engage your audience

Add humor to the speech to captivate your audience with a few laughs to enhance the vibe of the event. Not sure what to add? Why not take a moment to ask a close friend or relative of some funny moments they have experienced with the birthday person. If the stories are not suitable or non existent, then consider looking up some great one liners and add them into your speech to lighten the mood.

Your aim is to ensure the audience is actively engaged in your speech by focusing on the qualities of the birthday person which they can relate to. Bringing up memorable stories which highlight great times or milestones helps to resonate qualities of the birthday person and Incorporating a story or two can also make a point of enhancing the qualities which resonates what that person is really about.

4. Show sincerity

Towards the end of the speech, mention a few kind words to show them that you care. Thank everyone for coming, especially those who helped out in organising the event.

5. Keep it short

When people are at a party, they tend to have a short attention span and that’s if they haven’t had a drink yet. A speech which is between 2-5 minutes long is more than sufficient. By keeping it short, deep and meaningful, you can be sure to have your audience’s attention.

How to give a birthday speech – From friend to guest of honor

Here are a few examples of free birthday speeches for your next occasion:

Birthday speech example 1 – Thank you speech

Firstly I would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate this milestone with me. I am not one to come out and say a speech, this is actually the first for me. Normally I would shy off, though I feel today is a time where it must be done.

The reason why you are all here is that in one way or another, you have been apart of my life and moulded me to the person I am today. I would truly like to thank you all for that.

I would like to thank both my mom and dad for not only putting up with me but being there when it counted and making me who I am. Thank you! Also to those who I have grown up with and have helped me over the years, you know who you are… I can say that I am truly blessed to have you all in my life!

Last but not least, I need to say thank you to everyone who has helped to set up and make today happen. Now that’s enough of me saying thank you. I hope everyone enjoys themselves. Lets all have a drink and have a great time.

Birthday speech example 2 – Thank you speech

I want to take a moment to say thank you for everyone who has come down to come celebrate this birthday with me. It means a lot that you have all taken the time and I must say that I am blessed to have each and every one of you in my life. Thank you

Birthday speech example 3 – Thank you speech

A birthday is very important to a child. The cake, the candles and gifts are something which they which they look forward to weeks on end. As we get older, we begin to realize that more important than materialistic things are the things we celebrate to those who are most closest to us. I would like to say thank you for not only your best wishes and lovely gifts but for being here and making it the night that it is. Thank you.

Birthday speech example 4 – Coming of age and gratitude

I have to say that I am not one to perform any birthday speeches though with the amount of work which was put into making this night and the sheer turnout of people, I simply could not live with myself if I didn’t at least say a few words.

I would like to give a big shout out to all people involved it the planning of this special day of mine. As you all can see, a lot of time and effort has been spent to make this venue look beautiful and I am truly appreciative. Thank you.

For all of you who made the effort to come down here and celebrate this milestone of mine. I could not be happier as all of you in one way, shape, or form have shaped me to be the person I am today and for that I am eternally grateful. Through good times and bad, through sickness and in health, I have been supported and guided every step of the way and that has only reassured to me what really matters in life.

I have been quick to learn that all the flashy and shiny things in life slowly begin to fade, though the one thing that continues to shine in my world is the true connections and relationships I have formed with my family and friends.

So enough about all this sentimental nonsense. It’s time to put the music back on and get everyone back on this dance floor. Thank you all for coming and I hope you enjoy the night. Thank you!

Birthday speech example 5 – Coming of age

So whilst I am up here talking about this amazing day today we are celebrating, I have to say all the beautiful memories don’t I? Wrong. All I remember is the most embarrassing moments because I laughed so hard my glasses fell off my head, then I wasn’t too happy because I had to buy new ones.

So where do I start, my memory isn’t the best the older I get, that’s why my wife makes me do a crossword puzzle a day. Little does she know that I cheat from the answers on the bottom of the cross word page Ha-Ha. So as I get older and reflect, I would have to say best moments through out my life would have to be drawn to three main beautiful ones.

First would be marrying this beautiful lady I call my cook… I mean wife Ha-Ha.

Second would be becoming a father to these beautiful children standing in front of me, I am blessed to have the opportunity to raise these amazing children of mine and have never been more proud.

And thirdly, to the many people here today celebrating my birthday. I would not be the person standing here before you if it weren’t for each and everyone of you shaping me to who I am today.

I felt like writing this speech took me few minutes though I was told I was writing for most of the bloody day! Ha-Ha.

Thank you everyone for coming here today and celebrating this unforgettable night with me celebrating another year younger.

Birthday speech example 6 – For partner

Let’s face the truth. Some of us are not the best when it comes to remembering birthdays, but there is no way I could forget the birthday for the one I love. We are all here today to celebrate because (Name) has touched our lives in one way or another.

Today I want to openly say how much they mean to me. This is their birthday, and birthdays are supposed to be days which stand out in life. So (Name), I want to say thank you for being so caring over the years and making me so proud to be your partner.

Birthday speech example 7 – Birthday speech for husband

To the superman in my life. Happy birthday! Words are unable to express the amount of love I have for you. For anyone who knows you, knows how much of a kind hearted and bubbly character you are. Your generosity and strong nature are unlike no other I have ever met.

From when you came over to me over 20 years ago to ask me for my number, to building a strong relationship, falling in love, creating an incredible family, and now celebrating this milestone of yours today. It seems like a fairytale dream where I need to pinch myself every so often to believe that it is all true.

To all of you that have made the time to make it here tonight, thank you all for coming. Only people who were important to his life are here and it’s amazing how many people are actually here tonight.

Now back to my loving husband, on your birthday tonight, I want you to enjoy it without a care in the world, because a man like you deserves to be spoilt once in awhile. Happy birthday my love, may you continue to live with passion.

Birthday speech example 8 -Birthday speech for wife

To one of the most sexiest, beautiful, most amazing person apart from myself… Ha-Ha! To my incredible wife. I am unable to express how surreal it feels to have fallen in love and married such a beautiful soul. Never would I ever have thought i’d be so lucky to have such an angel like you in my life. Your smile, your character, your loving nature are just the tip of the iceberg of the many things you possess.

For all who are lucky enough to know her, understand that she is one who would do more for others than she would for herself. A quality which i’m sure we all agree is very rare these days. She always looks to see the positive in life, no matter how dark and gloomy things may be, something which she has allowed for me to adopt which has changed my life dramatically for the better, and i’m sure many others who are also here tonight.

To those who made the effort to come here today and celebrate this beautiful day today, thank you. You have made this day memorable and something i’m sure my wife will never forget. Now the party is still not over, so all of you grab a glass of champagne, and let’s party on well into the night as we celebrate this girls beautiful birthday.

Birthday speech example 9 – From mother to child

From changing your nappies to feeding you every time you cry, to making your favorite food which was always apple pie. The memories I have shared with you while growing up by your side, it was well worth the struggles and bumpy rides.

I look at you know and can’t stop smiling, for a beautiful grown boy/girl that you have become, no matter what you will always be my baby boy/girl, happy birthday and may this be another memory you will never forget like they first day we met. When you were born on this special day.

Birthday speech example 10 – 1 st birthday speech from mother

Even though your only one and you’re probably staring at me thinking what it this lady doing, my feeding time is soon. I am going to say this speech in front of all the family friends that are gathered here today to celebrate my child’s 1st birthday, where the fun times just keep getting better and better.

I remember the first day that I felt so sick and then after that my pants wouldn’t fit. I started eating everything in sight and my pantry would always start full and now and by night there was nothing left to right. After that I couldn’t sleep and I would become a grump in the morning which was nothing of the unusual Ha-Ha.

Then my feet started to swell jeez now I can’t find shoes that will fit well. So after all that complaining and whining, the day came where you were brought into this world. Your father had fainted, which was nothing unusual and all I cared about was that you were finally out!

Now, as we celebrate your 1st birthday, you don’t understand anything right now, but when you do I’ll be saying another speech like this to embarrass you. More for the loving mother that I am to make sure you never forget something so important like this day.

Birthday speech example 11 – From father to son

I guess I will start with most that I know and the beautiful things I remember. I was the happiest man when I found out you were a boy, I was filled with joy! Everyday I would buy my little man a different toy, but there was a problem. Instead of playing with them, I would find you out in the garden. Eating dirt, mud, insects and even snails. You weren’t very good at hiding your muddy trails. How sweet and cute that was.

Then you would complain of feeling sick. Sometimes you were so difficult, just like trying to use a chopstick. You would always cry when I tried to feed you, and you loved to pee on me when I tried to change you. You were a sneaky little bugger and you loved to touch. I even remember having to pull you away from someone’s crotch. These are the beautiful memories that I remember.

Though enough with me embarrassing you with these funny times, this is you birthday so let it be filled with great times. So happy birthday to my great son, never forget that you are my number one!

Birthday speech example 12 – From friend

On this milestone that you have achieved, what an honor it is to be sharing this celebration with you. As we all know, this person has been determined since they were little, to strive and be the best they can, no matter what the circumstances were.

As (Insert name) continued to grow and mature, they created beautiful memories by making each moment count and radiating the love filled passions to each one that they came across. Im sure we can all say that we are eternally grateful that you have came into our lives and that you never lose your zest for life as you grow up into adulthood.

We all love you dearly and wish you nothing but the absolute best as that is what you truly deserve. Happy birthday!

Birthday speech example 13 – 21st Funny birthday speech from friend

Can I have your attention. We are all here today to realise something special. Something so worthwhile to celebrate. Something fun, enjoyable and memorable. We have come here together to recognise and share in the joy this moment brings. I am talking about the open bar! Ha-Ha!

On a more serious note, I would like to draw your attention to one of my best of friends whose 21st birthday we are celebrating here tonight. I have known (Insert name) for more than 10 years and during that time, we have had many moments of fun, adventure and as many of you may know, mischief. Whenever together, we always seemed to find a way to get ourselves into trouble.

Just like the time we decided to play a trick on his mom by colouring in his younger brothers face an interesting shade of green. We took the time to make it look realistic and ensured it was with a permanent marker so it couldn’t be easily rubbed off. I remember the look on his mom’s face as she freaked out and rushed the brother to the hospital. After the doctor giving it the once over and explaining to his mom the cause of the problem. I remember her glaring at us in a trance like state. Lets just say I had never seen someones face go that red before. We both found it to be funny at the time though I don’t think he saw the light of day for at least a month after that incident. Ha-Ha

Anyone who knows him, knows that he will go out of his way to ensure everyone is having a laugh. Even at his own expense, he wants to ensure everyone is having a great time.

He has taken on many challenges, and succeeded many times. Not by chance, but by perseverance and heart. Anyone who knows (Insert name), knows he is full of heart.

So on this milestone may you continue to strive for all that you want and just wanted to let you know that I am grateful to have such a great friend like you. Happy Birthday.

Birthday speech example 14 – 21st birthday speech

Yay! Im finally legal! Wow, this has been a long time coming for me, I mean now i can have a drink… Legally! Ha-Ha! Mum doesn’t seem to impressed!

Firstly I’d like to give a massive shout out to my parents, for not only raising such an awesome child, Ha-Ha! But also for making me who I am, and making this beautiful day happen. To my beautiful family members who cooked up all this beautiful food and helped to decorate this place, thank you so much, it looks absolutely beautiful.

To my wacky and crazy friends. You are all a bad influence on me and I thank you for that. Don’t worry mum, i’m only joking… It’s more like the other way around… Ha-Ha! As I get older, I begin to appreciate the significance of true family and friends in one’s life. I have to say that I couldn’t consider myself any luckier to have all of you in my life.

So anyway, let’s get out the champagne and celebrate my 21st birthday!

Birthday speech example 15 – 40th birthday speech

I can’t believe my 30’s have left me… I think it’s about time I started acting more serious and more so, my age… Well, maybe after tonight…

I remember when I was much younger, I would look at someone who was 40 and say to myself, that’s an old person. Now that I have turned the big 4-0! I now realise it was just an old person who was trying to figure out where the hell all the time went! Ha-Ha! I guess time flies when you’re having fun. Well I Know it’s definitely true for me. I’ll tell you why.

Firstly I have an amazing wife who is nothing but a bundle of joy to be around, and is able to always find a way to put a smile on my face.

Secondly I have been blessed with two beautiful boys who are an absolute pain in my ass, Ha-Ha! Though I do love so dearly! Apart from my gorgeous wife, I never thought I would love these boys so much, as much as I do. It must be because they remind me so much of me when I was growing up… Ha-Ha!

And thirdly… To all of you beautiful people standing here before me today. How can I not enjoy having each and every one of you in my life. I mean how lucky can a man get to have such funny, supportive and caring friends. Blessed is the word I use to describe having all of you be apart of my journey through life. Thank you all for being here today. Its is honestly an honour to celebrate this day with all of you here tonight.

Anyway, enough with all this sentimental crap, let’s pump the music back up, all grab a drink and at least let me celebrate being 39 one more time! Ha-Ha! Thank you!

Birthday speech example 16 – 50th birthday speech

Wow, how time flies! It’s only yesterday I can remember starting my first job at McDonalds where I met my best friend. And now I have a glass of champagne in my hand, celebrating my 50th birthday in front of all of you amazing people.

Where do I start? Firstly I need to give a massive shout out to my beautiful wife who made tonight happen. To not only organise all of this, but also keep it a secret from me which I am blown away how much effort she put in. The amount of detail she has put into this venue is incredible. Such an amazing woman, and I mean look at her, even after all these years, she is still a stunner!

To my two boys, I am proud of both of you and must say you are both still a pain in my ass. Must be because you remind me of when I was a kid growing up. Ha-Ha, they do say that karma eventually comes around. I can now understand what I put my parents through when I was growing up! But jokes aside they a great boys and couldn’t wish for any better.

Obviously I need to give a shout out to mum and dad for putting up with me over my younger years. Considering i’m sure many of you agree, I was no angel growing up. I like to think I turned out alright. Ha-Ha! Though I do have to say they were always there for support and was truly blessed to have incredible parents. I love you both.

To all my close family and friends here tonight. Thank you all for coming and most importantly, thank you for being apart of my life. All of you, in one way or another have been apart of my incredible journey of being 50 years on this earth and I wouldn’t want it any way.

So everybody grab a drink and let’s turn this music up, because i’m pretty sure you will all agree that after all these years and crazy memories, who would have known I would have made it this far. Ha-Ha! Thank you all for coming and hope you enjoy your night. Thank you!

Birthday speech example 17 – From daughter to fathers 50th birthday speech

For those of you whose memories are fading or may have had a little too much to drink tonight, we are here to celebrate the birthday of my dad. Fifty years ago today, the world was given a great gift. A gift by the name of (Insert name). The first of three children, my father was and still is, a very funny and generous man. Throughout the years, he has told many of us his overly simplistic, corny jokes which keeps us all laughing to this day. Just earlier he told me a joke and had me giggling like a little girl again. He said “What do you call a cheese that’s not yours? Nacho Cheese!”. I know, corny right? But it still does the job.

I suppose the main reason why we all have a little laugh and look forward to his humor is that he always likes to remind us that life is not meant to be taken too seriously and that laughter helps to keep us grounded. To this day, I have incorporated this philosophy into my life and I am sure all of us look forward to the energy and humor that he gives us.

Married to his high school sweetheart for 28 years, and with two pretty awesome kids, Ha-Ha. Sorry but I had to add that in. He has shown to be the best role model any family could ask for.

He has always been one to lend a helping hand to anyone in need and is not shy to have a casual drink when in good company.

On this birthday, may you enjoy your night and continue to pass on your energy and happiness for many more years to come. Happy birthday dad!

Birthday speech example 18 – 60th birthday speech

I can’t believe that as I stand here before you, I have been on this earth for 60 years. Seems like a long time, though for me, it feels like only yesterday I was celebrating my 21st birthday. I ought to cut out drinking or before I know it, i’ll be 100 soon. Ha-Ha!

For me, I have experienced both the joys and miseries of life and through it all, I have been able to take one thing from it. Regardless of life’s ups and downs, its all about making the most out of each situation and being present in the moment. Because as I get older, I begin to appreciate all of the moments life has to offer and the truth of the matter is that nothing is owed to us. For every day we wake up is a blessing. And as I am now 60 years old and CONSIDERED wise… Ha-Ha! I feel that we should make the most of each passing day, and what better way with both family and loved ones.

Lucky for me, I have been extremely fortunate to have all of my nearest and dearest to me all here tonight and I have to say, I wouldn’t want to have tonight any other way. Although it may be the wine talking, I must say that I love each and everyone of you here tonight… Especially the caterer, the food served here has been delicious! Ha-Ha! Now let’s all embarrass ourselves by having a few more drinks and getting on the dance floor!

Birthday speech example 19 – From daughter to mother

Your loving touch is like no other, your smile is brightest of all. Your heart beats love and care, but sometimes truth be told you are unfair. You are the only best friend a daughter could ask for. The sacrifices you have made to make sure I have the right path of guidance. You are the best mother a daughter could ever have. Wishing you a happy birthday with many more fun filled ones to come.

Milestone Birthday Speeches for Friends and Loved Ones

Composing a speech to celebrate a friend’s birthday, especially one that is a milestone, can sometimes prove to be an intimidating task.

However, we have made the process exponentially easier by providing you free, ready-to-use presentations for such occasions that would let any such person know how much you truly appreciate their special companionship.

Table of Contents

Birthday speech for boss, birthday speech for a working partner, birthday speech for sister, birthday speech for brother, for 21st birthday.

I can’t thank all the beautiful people here enough for gracing the occasion of the 21st birthday of [Name of Friend]. To say that I’m thrilled to celebrate this special day with [Name of Friend] is the best definition of an understatement.

Buddy, today as you transition fully into adulthood, I think I can safely speak for all of us when I say we are overjoyed to share this day with you. Additionally, we are all fully confident in your ability to not only survive but prosper on your own. That being said, I feel honored to be making this presentation not only to officiate my boy, my friend becoming a man, but also in hopes that when that prosperity does come he dare not forget me. In our teens we do a lot of dumb things, and in our twenties we sometimes do things twice as stupid, but as for someone with such a sound mind as you, I know this is going to be the best decade of your life so far. You are going to get married, you are going to start a beautiful family, and make all of the people who love and care for you, including of course myself, extremely proud. So I end this speech thankful not only for my friend reaching this notable age but also for the glorious future that awaits him.

Today you have the privilege of not only being the guest of honor but also entering into one of the most exciting periods of your life. We are all here to congratulate and to wish you many more years of health, productivity and growth. Being 21 invokes feelings of envy in some people, who wish that during those robust, irreplaceable years they had spent their time more constructively. Therefore I am here to implore you to use these next years of your life wisely. Don’t be “young, dumb and full of c*m” and make mistakes that can haunt you for decades. Focus your energies on being genuinely productive because if there is one thing all of us gathered here have in common it is the belief that whatever you put your mind to, there is absolutely, positively no reason why you can’t achieve it. In some ways I wish I also were you. I wish my mind was still at the stage of seeing only potentials without acknowledging the harsh realities of life, as it is often that same thought pattern that proves to be a prerequisite for greatness. Then combine those beliefs with the qualities, talents and support system you already possess, and again the world is yours. So in conclusion, let me say welcome to this new stage of your life, the stage where you are the sole superstar.

[Name of Friend], may you continue to grow in strength and make us all proud. Happy birthday.

The world can be a scary place, which is why I am more than honored to officially welcome someone as fearless as yourself into adulthood. I know what it feels like to be paralyzed with fear, and I also know what it feels like to be so confident you can take on the world, and I’m glad you naturally possess the latter frame of thought. I have no doubt, absolutely no doubt, that the world is your oyster, that if the path is not already laid for you as you tread the path to success, the angels themselves will clear the way.

The only way I can think to adequately end this brief oration is by sharing my prayer of not wishing any drastic change in your character but only that you mature, become wiser and fully realize all of the internal gifts that have be entrusted to you. I believe that you are a special blessing to us (your loved ones) and the entire world at large.

[Name of Friend], you’re the world’s most phenomenal 21 year old! May God bless you with many more birthdays filled with immense blessings and joy. At this juncture, let the party officially begin.

For 30th Birthday

Wow, 30 years of perpetual, never-ending greatness! If I were not close enough to bear witness myself, I’m not sure I would even believe it is possible. You have always shown yourself to be beyond your years in wisdom, discipline and maturity. You have established a foundation for yourself where others have faltered. This isn’t about me overpraising you because again as your close friend I know you aren’t perfect. This is about me being excited about the future, a future with you. This is about me saying ‘wow, if he is this great now, how great will he be when he’s 40, 50 or 60?’ This is about life being a movie with you being the deserving star, and people such as myself, who will always find a way to attend your birthday celebration no matter what, always desiring a sequel.

I guess what I’m trying to say is as much pleasure as it has been growing up with you, as much of a joyride it has been partaking in your friendship through various stages of my life, I know the future, your future, is going to be better. Right now you are neither young nor old. You are in the perfect position to assert yourself more upon the world. So today, sorry to say this, but I’m putting a burden on you. The burden is to use the roots you have already established to now grow into a mighty oak, with the magnitude of your accomplishments providing not only shade to yourself but also the countless others who can use your services. Happy birthday, my dearest friend.

I can come up here and shower you with all types of lavish words, but the truth is even if no one came out today to pay respect, metamorphosing into such a wonderful tricenarian in itself is a helluva accomplishment you should forever be proud of.

[Name of Friend], I know I don’t often say it but your friendship is such a great blessing in my life which I shall never ever stop treasuring. You are more than just a friend; you are a role model, an icon, a living legend. You may never receive the accolades properly due to someone of your stature here on earth, but most assuredly the heavens have plenty of prizes in store for you, as is evident because you have already been receiving them. You are a person who everyone would feel greatly privileged to have as a friend.

Happy 30th birthday, my dear friend! Here’s to you and the beauty you bring into our lives every blessed day. In my eyes, there is no greater pleasure than honoring someone who genuinely deserves it.

Thank you a trillion times for coming into my life and being a true friend to me in this lifetime. Will love you always.

For 40th Birthday

They say that now over half the world’s population is under the age of 30, so reaching the age of 40 is like being an elder 100 years ago. But all jokes aside, it was a privilege being your fellow journeyman as you made it through young man/womanhood into an established adult. Yes there were challenges along the way, but none that you were not able to surpass and then come out the better person as a result. Knowing that my children have someone like you to look up to as an uncle/aunt gives me full assurance that if I ever need an additional voice of wisdom to help steer them in the right direction, one is just a phone call away. And likewise it is my honor, indeed my privilege, to continue to serve as your faithful friend in any capacity you may need me. So as you continue through life’s journey to days more glorious than even those you left behind, know that I and other loved ones will be there to staunchly cheer you on every step of the way. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you an absolutely beautiful and blessed 40th birthday.

Big congratulations to you on turning 40 today! Despite the fact that you have officially reached what most people refer to as the middle age, I feel as though you are just beginning. 40 is a beautiful and very exciting chapter of life. And as you enjoy the incredible excitement that dwells in this chapter of your life, it’s my hope that you will use all of the invaluable knowledge, experience and love you have obtained throughout the years to go all out and fulfill what you perceive as the ultimate goal.

For someone as accomplished as yourself, perhaps others will look at you and say, ‘He’s already done so much. He has nothing left to prove.’ But as for me, I am cognizant, indeed even awe-stricken, of the amount of latent potential you still possess. Owing to this, I strongly believe the latter half of your life will be even more amazing than the first was. So my friend, go and travel to an exotic location, write a book, buy the pet pony you have always wanted – you get the idea. We are all already blessed by your companionship, and we are going to be even more blessed by what you have yet to achieve. So let me wish you a happy birthday, one that you will enjoy with all your heart yet will still be undermined by the ones that are yet to come.

For 50th Birthday

Aging used to be something I feared until I got to know you, a person who has now reached the age of 50 while simultaneously defining what it means to age gracefully. Aging gracefully means you may see changes on the outside, but on the inside you still possess the same zest for life, if not more, than someone who is new to the world. And this is also not to insinuate that there is anything wrong with the outside, for in my humble opinion you are the personification of the age old proverb that if a person is beautiful internally, it will reflect on them externally. In other words you are aging as one is supposed to age – or let me say as we would all like to age – by becoming more beautiful, more pronounced in your ability to survive, rather than decaying. Indeed one of my greatest aspirations in life is to become more like you, to have people look at me and say, ‘What’s her secret?’ So that is why when the opportunity presented itself for me to give this speech I didn’t shy away, not only for the chance to wish you a happy birthday but also to exclaim in front of the entire interconnected world how great you are and how much you are an inspiration to the lives that you have touched. Happy 50th birthday, my dearest friend. It’s my hope and prayer that you’ll forever glitter and shine like priceless diamonds spread under the glorious rays of the sun.

Today the onus has fallen on me to try to encapsulate 50 years of an amazing life with just a few short words. I mean just think about it – when we first met, you were too young to work, and now in a few short years you are going to retire. I’m not going to deceive myself into thinking I can succinctly summarize all of your fiery trials and incredible triumphs, all of the painful sadness and carefree jubilations. Instead I’m going to keep things brief by simply letting you know how we all feel – we love you; we are proud of you, and we can’t think of any way to pass this day more appropriately than honoring one of the greatest men we all have the pleasure of knowing.

Now speaking on behalf of the guest of honor, someone who I know better than my own right hand, let’s all grab a drink, get thoroughly intoxicated and thank God for bringing us all together on this special day. Happy 50th birthday, buddy. May the good things of the universe always walk with you.

Today I have come to honor one of the greatest influencers on my entire life. And when I refer to the motivation that you have instilled in me, I mean it only in a positive way, as in you have done nothing but inspire me to do great things. Yes, there were times that you barked on me so hard I felt like calling my mommy. Both those are the moments when I also learned the most about what it means to be a true professional. Indeed I will go even further and say working with you has been fun as well as educational, as you always proved more than a boss but even more-significantly a genuine friend. So on this special day, if the heavens will hear my wishes, there are two things that I humbly request. One is that you get so old that when you finally leave the mortal plane, it will be by your own desire and not by force. And second is that the special bond we have established throughout the years last for the entire duration of our lives.

Related: 30+ Amazing Thank You Messages for Events and Support

You have been the perfect working partner. Truth be told, I would not have made it this far without you, because for the most part I just copied your work anyway. That’s right – I emulated myself to success. And I am most grateful for having such an outstanding person in my life that has proven to be such a positive influence. Today, we are partners, and I am hoping this companionship lasts until the day we no longer have to report to this miserable place and instead are collecting our big, phat paychecks at home. And I am also anticipating that every professional advancement I make, you will be present every step of the way, benefiting from my efforts also, as I don’t know many other people who would be so gracious with being plagiarized. But all jokes aside, it is an honor for me to be here and an even greater privilege being deemed worthy to actually give this speech. I know I speak for all of us when I say I look forward to doing this again next year, the year after that and into eternity, giving proper recognition to one of the kindest partners in the world.

First off let me say this is a special day to me. And I know it isn’t my birthday but rather that of my lovely sister. However, each anniversary of her life is a great cause for me to celebrate. This is because she has always been an invaluable and inseparable loved one who has been there for me. On top of that, no one knows her quite like I do, and the same goes for her childhood knowledge of me. But now looking at her as an adult – all I will say is that whenever I consider your accomplishments, I know that we share the same DNA, so I must be able to perform the same great feats also. And your future is even brighter than your present. I would adore seeing you one day with children. Or I would love watching you wholeheartedly pursue your professional endeavors. In other words, whatever road you decide to take, indeed whatever life throws at you, I am right there by your side. But now enough of the blatant as**-kissing. I think the true moment we have all been waiting for is digging into that delicious birthday cake you have baked!

You have known me my whole life and know I am not much of a public speaker. In fact you used to admonish me for being too shy. And while I have come a long way since then, honestly I still get the jitters being called upon to do things like make this speech. But this is an opportunity that I couldn’t let pass me by, because I have not only come up here to talk about a great man but also my very own brother. You have indeed come a long way from days past. Now people cannot help but complement your accomplishments. But even before you were the man you have become today, I always looked up to you. And I thank you more than anyone for proving that the person I had so much faith in indeed proved to be a champion. I have no doubt the future holds great things for you – happiness, good health, honor and riches. I just ask that when the day does come when all of your aspirations are physically manifest, you won’t forget to pass some of the blessings down to your little bro.

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18th/21st Birthday Speech from a Parent

Here is an example 18th/21st Birthday speech delivered by a father, but of course you can adapt it to be a mothers speech.

You should probably use adapt it for your own personal use, and put in your own anecdotes. 

Birthday wishes speech, from parent to birthday girl

Ladies and Gentlemen. I would first like to thank you all for coming to my daughter .. .. 21st birthday party tonight. Now, about a week ago .. .. came and asked me, “Dad, when I have my big birthday party with all my family and friends, and the masses of presents and cake; when we’re all there having a drink, I would like you to give a little speech.”

At the time I said ok love and walked into the kitchen a little shaken and nervous. Not because I had to give a speech at her big birthday party, but due to my ever-increasing age, I’d forgotten to organise the party in the first place.

So, my second thank you comes to my wife, and .. .. mother B.Person, for always remembering to do the things I forget, and being, as I’m sure you will all agree, a great mother to our child/children.

So as I sat down to write my speech, I wrote it and re-wrote it. Then I made a few more adjustments to it to make it shorter, had B.Person check it, then edited and re-wrote it again myself. And as you can see, there is no DJ here tonight; that’s because after all the alterations it is still over two hours long.

But on a serious note now, .. .. has turned 21, a milestone in her life, and ours as parents. To see her grow from the beautiful, small and fragile child I first saw in the hospital, 21 years ago to the day, to the strong and independent woman that stands before us now. She is smart, beautiful and has worried us a few times over the years with the choice of boyfriends that she has brought home, but .. .., we are all her today to say we all love you and wish you every happiness in whatever you do next.

.. .. has brought into mine and her mothers’ life more than we could have ever expected after getting more than our monies worth at the cinema that time – only joking. But really, you have filled our lives with a happiness that cannot be measured by any scale man has. Shown us more love than we knew possible and you have made us the happiest parents/parent that there is – thank you.

So good luck in your life with boyfriend/husband (or in the search), and I hope that one day your children will bring you as much happiness as you have brought to us/me.

Just remember this .. ..,

Be happy, and reach for the moon, as if you miss you will land amongst the stars, and be the brightest we can see.

Ryan Marshall, Presentation Magazine

Items on discussion forum 21st birthday speech for a sister Birthday speech Toast to my brother on his 21st

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hey thanks for the ideas, I managed to write a suitable speech for my daughters 21st party and your outline was really helpful. thankyou

thank you. Such a great help to me. Now I can prepare a suitable speech for may daughter too.

Thankyou.As it is often the case, sometimes a little help gets the creative juices flowing.I now have a short speech ready.Edited many times, of course! Short n sweet is best eh.

Thnx for the idea. Vry helpfull must make a speech for friends daughter

thanku for youre ideas now we can go ahead and write ours xxx

Thank u so much, such a big help

thank you so much for your help, it makes me comfortable in preparing a beautiful message for the event of my daughter…..

Thank you immensely, now I can prepare my son”s Birthday.

Thank you so much for the idea now I can prepare my sons speech

Thank you so much for some information i can now prepare my speech

This has been really helpful, thanks

This has been very helpful. I was able to come up with mu own using this as a guide and pattern…especially for my busy schedule wherein I have very limited time.

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50 Great Birthday Speeches for All

Struggling to craft a sweet and touching happy birthday speech to a loved one or acquaintance? If that is what you are battling with, you have come to a place that will help you easily surmount that challenge.

Below we have put together some beautiful speeches that you can deliver on the birthday celebrations of the wonderful people in your life. You can use these fine orations the way they have been published here or pick ideas from them to write your own.

Table of Contents

Birthday speech for a friend, funny birthday speeches, birthday speech for mom, birthday speech for dad, 60th birthday speech, birthday speech for your husband, birthday speech for your wife, 21st birthday speech from mother/father to daughter, birthday speech for your daughter, birthday speeches for your son, birthday speeches for your brother, birthday speech for your sister, birthday speech for your boss, birthday speeches for your working partner.

Whether it’s your best friend or a friend from middle school that you haven’t seen for years, you’ll find what you need here.

• You’ve been my best friend since 6th grade. I’ll never forget you walking into my math class and sitting right next to me like you knew we were meant to be best friends. Ever since that day, I have had the privilege of watching you grow as a person. I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life, but I’ve always had a safe place to go where I wouldn’t be judged. So, thank you for always being on my side for the last 10 years. Thank you for being my best friend. Happy Birthday.
• Thank you for thinking of me on your special day. We haven’t seen each other for years, but it’s amazing how we talked today like no time went by. I hope you are having a great time. I know I am. You’ve grown so much as a person since we last saw each other. I’m so excited to get to know you again and pick up where we left off back in the day.

• (NAME), your ability to keep me out of trouble has been one of the greatest attributes I admire a lot about you. I still remember back in the days when we were kids and how you used to keep the adults very busy with your amazing antics, just to make sure I never got spanked for my mischievous doings.
• On special days like today, I think we should make merry and let the whole world know that we are celebrating the most important day of the year. I pray for many days like today for you, but I hope you know that more birthdays come with more wrinkles on your face. Anyway, I know you love birthdays and wouldn’t mind having many wrinkles on your face just to celebrate another birthday. May this anniversary bring joy and happiness to you, (NAME).
• Being a truly special day today, ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to use this opportunity to invite you all to become wildlife supporters so that we can all have a fabulously wild party!

• It affords me much pleasure to have the privilege to deliver this speech in honor of the birthday celebration of a dear friend of mine. (NAME), I will like to take advantage of this outstanding day in your life to let you know how much your presence in my life means to me. I might not say it to you very often, but you mean the world to me. (NAME), you and I have been the best of friends since we were little. I know you inside out and you know me inside out. But you are really more than just a mere friend to me; you are my brother/sister and inspiration.
• All my life I’ve never seen anyone that is as loving and caring as you. And in addition to that you have an excellent sense of humor, which makes you the more wonderful. I wouldn’t trade your company for all the gold in the world. How blessed I am to have a magnificent person like you whom I call my friend and brother/sister.
• On this special day of your life, I wish you all the good fortune in the world. May this anniversary celebration mark the beginning of breathtaking accomplishments in your life. You deserve it. You have really come a long way and achieved a great deal in many spheres of your life despite the challenging circumstances and obstacles that stood in your way.  I’m so proud and honored to be counted among your closest friends. Have a gloriously happy birthday celebration and a long life accompanied by good health, happiness and peace.

This category could fit anyone in your life. So, if you want to stand out and make them laugh, this is for you.

• Happy birthday to one of maybe 3 people that I don’t need Facebook to help me remember that you’re aging. We’re all here to celebrate you, and you should really appreciate that. I mean, I gave up my evening of doing absolutely nothing to be here with you. But seriously, you’re the family member I’m least ashamed of being related to. So, thank you for that and enjoy your day.
• Well, I was going to joke about you getting older, but then I remembered that every year you get older, I also get older. So, I had some wine and thought about it. Age really does get better with wine. Anyway, here’s to one year closer to being that crazy cat lady, talking to ourselves and being the only ones laughing at our own jokes. Oh wait, we’re already there.
• Dearest (NAME), I congratulate you and wish you a happy birthday for growing a year older. It is always nice to be in your company because you are such a fun loving person.  It amazes me how you are able to perfect the art of putting smiles on faces of people around you. Indeed, you should be contesting for the award of the “The World’s Funniest”. On Sundays. In April. In leap years.

Whether you’re best friends with her, or just love your mom dearly, this list is for her:

• Thank you for being my best friend and confidant for so many years. Not everyone is blessed to have a caring, loving mom like I am. And I want you to know that I am truly thankful. I have always been able to come to you with anything, and that has helped me become the confident person that I am today. So, thank you, and I wish you all the best on your special day and every day after.
• Mom, I haven’t known you for my entire life, but I struggle to remember a time that you weren’t there. Thank you for accepting me as yours. Blood isn’t everything and you have shown that by taking me in and treating me like your own child. I know I’ll never be able to repay you for that, but just know that today and every day, I appreciate it.

This category is for your dad, whether it’s a father figure or your actual father.

• Hey Dad, today is your special day and I want to make sure you know how much I appreciate you. Every time I needed advice about life, or my car was making a funny noise, I always knew I could come to you. Thank you for teaching me how to take care of myself. Although I still might have to call you when something breaks, you have taught me how to be a good person above all.
• I know you weren’t there when I was born, and you didn’t see me take my first steps. But you will always be my dad. You have come into my life and taught me how to be a self-sufficient person. You taught me what love really is, and I want you to know that I wouldn’t trade you for the world. Thank you for choosing me and never giving up on me. Happy Birthday dad.

50th birthday speech

• The easy joke is calling you over the hill or halfway there, but the truth is that you’ve been on this earth for half of a century. That sounds like a long time, but it’s really not. Life is so short. Time truly flies. But I’m so lucky to have known you for some/all of those 50 years.
• You’ve been alive for 50 years, and you are still the kindest person that I know. You have grown with such grace and empathy. Some people get cold as they get older, but after being here for 50 years, you are still just as kind as the day we met. I wish you continued happiness on your journey.

Happy 50th Birthday Wishes!

• Although you’re 60 today, it continues to amaze me how much you still want to learn and grow. This age is the perfect time to try something new. So, let’s try yoga or go horseback riding. Either way, if I’m there with you, I know it’ll be a blast. It has been an absolute pleasure knowing you, and I wish you an even better year than the last.
• Today, you’re 21,915 days old. Sure, that sounds like a lot, but you have truly used all of those days to do your best. For 60 years, you haven’t stopped giving, caring and loving those around you. You always make sure the people around you know that you care about them and what they have to say. So, today is for you. We’re celebrating, giving, caring and loving you today because you deserve it.

Happy 60th Birthday Wishes!

• To my darling husband, (NAME), on your birthday, I say, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for always being by my side to love, support, encourage and protect me”. You not only make my heart happy but also my entire body as a whole. God really blessed me abundantly the day He brought us together.
• You are such a phenomenal friend and husband to me. Honey, not even all the words in the dictionary will be sufficient to express to you the amount of love that this heart of mine has for you. Such is the depth of my love for you. Thank you for every beautiful thing you have done for me.
• Prior to meeting you, I always wondered who would ever feel the great vacuum in my life, but then you came into my life and not only filled that emptiness in my but whisked me to paradise. Having an amazing friend and husband like you is worth more than all the diamonds and money in the world. I truly love you from the bottom of the deepest cores of my heart and soul.

• To all the beautiful people here, who took time off their busy schedules to attend the birthday celebration of my beloved wife, I say, “Thanks for being so wonderful to us”. I can forget everything in my life, but never will I forget the birthday of my beloved (NAME), who is not only my sweet wife but also my best friend and mentor.
• On your anniversary, honey, I have a confession to make. When you go to bed, what you don’t know is the fact that very often I wake up in the middle of the night and stare at you as you sleep peacefully finding it hard to believe that a wonderful woman like you chose me to be her husband. How I became so lucky to have you in my life is something I will never understand. You are indeed the greatest treasure of my life – there’s absolutely no two ways about it!
• (NAME), thank you for being an incredibly caring, loving and supportive wife to me. Thank for touching my life in a way that no other has and will ever do. From the deepest part of my heart, I wish you a long, happy life. May every desire of your heart that hasn’t yet materialized begin materializing in grand style from today onwards. I love you so much, honey. Thank you for being my superwoman and the love of my life. Happy birthday!

• We’ve come a long way from the Cinderella-themed parties when you were young. Now I am suddenly looking across the table at an adult. I’m not sure where the time went, but I am so proud of the sweet, intelligent, beautiful girl you’ve become. As you explore adulthood, I just hope you are happy, safe and stay true to yourself no matter what.
• For 21 years, I have watched you grow, learn, struggle and overcome, but one thing I was always so proud of is your determination. That fire inside of you has been there for your entire life. Whether it was learning to walk or to drive, you always had that fire in your eyes, and I can’t wait to see where that determination takes you. I’m endlessly proud of you.

Happy 21st Birthday Wishes!

• My sweet angel, as you turn a new age today, know that there’s nothing in this world that I wouldn’t do to put happiness in your heart and smiles on your beautiful face. You are my rainbow and everything I treasure in this world.
• Sweetheart, I only have one advice for you today. Work hard and never stop having faith in yourself. If you do this, all you big dreams will always come to fruition and you will certainly be all the things you want to be.
• You are a beautiful young woman who brings glory to me all the time, and for that I shall forever be thankful to my lucky stars. Sunshine, may the good Lord be with you every moment of your life and guide your every step. Happy birthday, my dearly beloved daughter. I love you so much.
• Son, you are one of the biggest reasons I wake up with a smile on my face every morning. You make me exceedingly proud to be a father/mother every second of my life. I couldn’t have asked God to bless me with a better son. For as long as I live, I shall support you physically and spiritually. I shall always be there for you through the good times, the not so good times, and the bad times.
• Before I take my seat, I’d like to take this opportunity to ask everyone here to kindly join me to wish my dear son and friend a super duper happy birthday! I love you so much, son.

• Happy birthday to the best brother in this world!  I know I can always count on your support during difficult and pleasant times. You are someone who always seeks to have a positive impact on everyone who comes into your life, which I believe is the reason why you have attracted so many good friends. Planet earth will be a very wonderful place to be if everyone had a brother like you who is so selfless and very tolerant as well.
• (NAME), we have had many amazing moments together and I can remember our childhood days when we used to do a lot of wild and crazy stuff. Growing up was really fun with you around. I want you to know that I cherish every moment that I spend with you. Brother, you are the reason I am who I am today and this is because you always inspire and encourage me to seek greater heights in life.
• Today, being a very important day in your life, I want to use this moment to express my sincerest gratitude to you for all your support, care and above all the extraordinary love that you have shown me. My prayer for you is to have a life that overflows with joy, happiness, and good health. Happy birthday, dear brother!
• Happy birthday, lovely sister! I truly think that you deserve an award for the “Best Sister of the Year”, and to be honest this is not because you have been an amazing person to me, but your exceptional qualities as a person and a woman for that matter needs to be applauded.

• Sweet sister, whenever the thought of you crosses my mind (which it often does), it brings memories of very exciting moments that we have shared together. You are caring, smart and full of fun, which always makes me feel that I am the luckiest sibling on this earth, knowing that I have someone very special like you in my life.
• (NAME), I can’t thank you enough for all the awesome things that you have done for me. You have been my best friend, and I can’t imagine how my world would be without you. I want to congratulate you on adding another year to your life and I hope that this birthday brings you an abundance of happiness and joy. Happy birthday, dear sister!
• Hi everyone! I always count myself to be one of the luckiest persons in this world to have such an extraordinary boss like you. Your relationship with your employees transcends the usual. To me, you are a best friend and a brother as well. I will be forever grateful to you for all the support you have given me and most importantly for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful Company.
• Your leadership style is one of the best one can think of. You are always on the lookout for the best in terms of the welfare of your employees and the Company as a whole. Professionally, I consider you to be the best boss I have ever met. You have made the workplace one of the most enjoyable places to be.
• I can’t thank you enough for having a good impact on the lives of all your employees. I want to use this special day to wish you all the best in life. I pray that the Almighty Lord will keep on blessing you with many more exciting days like your birthday today. Once again, I wish you a fantastic birthday, dear boss!
• To me and this business, you have proven to be a valuable asset. Words cannot express how much pleasure it gives me to work with such a dedicated person like you. I am really amazed and impressed by the professional way you go about your work, especially in solving very tedious problems. Your exceptional decision-making skills have yielded awesome results for this business. You deserve a standing ovation for the professionalism you bring to this business.
• Again, (NAME), words cannot sufficiently express how grateful I am to you for all the sleepless nights and backbreaking tasks that you had to go through just to make sure that the business is on the right path. Your loyalty to this partnership has always been true and you are indeed the ideal person to do business with.
• This business has been successful, and I believe that it will only get better because of a special partner like you who has always been there through thick and thin. I want to use this moment to let you know that you are my inspiration and I am thankful for having you in both my professional and personal life. I wish you all the best as you commemorate this special day which marks your birthday.

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Yiannis Kalliantas (He/Him) has worked for more than 15 years in the hotel industry, organizing all kinds of social events like birthday parties and wedding receptions.

He has an MBA in Tourism, and is an avid city photographer. His recent work on street photography in Athens, Greece can be found on his website IWalkAthens.com .

SEE ALL CONTRIBUTORS

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The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

Remarks by President   Biden at the National Peace Officers Memorial   Service

U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C.

12:21 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  President Yoes, Auxiliary President Hennie, Auxiliary President Lehmann, Executive Director and good friend Jimmy Pasco, thank you for your service to our nation and for inviting me to join you once again today. I’d also like to thank the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General Monaco and — as well the deputy of — the Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas; and the Director of the FBI; Secret Service; Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; the U.S. Marshals Service; and the U.S. Capitol Police for their leadership. We’re also joined by my good friend, Wade Carpenter, president of the Chiefs of Police, and Ed Kelly, president of the firefighters’ union.  And thank you, members of the Congress who are here today. Two weeks ago, I was in Charlotte, North Carolina, to spend some time with the families of the eight brave police officers who were shot in the line of duty.  Tragically, four of them were killed.  They were husbands, fathers, heroes. And all of you who serve and for your families left behind, you live a cho- — a simple truth: Every time you put on that shield and walk out of the house, your family wonders if that call will come or if they’ll get that terrible call somewhere during the day or night.  We owe you as a nation. This year, we honor ov- — over 200 heroic women and men from all across the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice. For all the families of our fallen officers, I know hearing the name of your husband, wife, father, mother, son or daughter, brother or sister brings it all back as if you got that news just 10 minutes ago.  That black hole in the middle of your chest — you feel like you’re being sucked into.  It’s like losing part of your soul. I know.  When my son Beau spent a year in Iraq, he came home with stage four glioblastoma and was going to die, and he did.  I know what it’s like.  I get a feeling that you all know, as well, who have lost in the past.  You know, I found out there is only one thing — at least for me, when my — got the call that my wife and daughter were dead; when I got the call my son was about to die — I know the only one thing that helped: family.  If you have family, hold them tight.  Hold on to each other, because the day will come — it’s hard to believe — when the thought of your husband or your wife or your son or your daughter will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye.  It takes a long time, but it will come.  My wish for you: It’ll come sooner than later. There is a line from the English poet John Milton.  He said, “They also serve who only stand and wait.”  Every family of an officer stands and waits so their loved one can serve the rest of us. I admire your courage in being here.  And I hope you take comfort in the knowledge that their sacrifice will never be forgotten and then, in this extended family of women and men assembled here today, who will always be there for you — other police officers, they’ll always be there for you. Throughout my career, I’ve unfortunately spoken at too many funerals of too many police officers — extraordinary, brave, heroic public servants who kept us safe.  Being a police officer is not just what you do; it’s who you are. You’re just like all the women and men in law enforcement I grew up with in Scranton and Claymont, Delaware.  You always run toward danger as others run away from it.  Most of you, even when you were kids, you did it, long before you became an officer.  You run toward the cries for help knowing that you could be of help.  It’s part of your DNA to serve, to protect, to defend. You represent the very best of America.  You’re the steel spine of this country. Back in February, I convened a group of police chiefs at the White House to talk about the hard work you’re doing to make our communities safer. Being a cop is one hell of a lot harder than it’s ever been.  We expect everything of you.  We expect everyone — drug counselors, you’re supposed to be, protecting people who are overdosing; social workers to kids who have been abandoned; guardians in communities flooded with weapons of fear. That’s why, since day one of my presidency, I’ve been working to make sure you have the tools you need to protect, the partners you need, and the community to help.  During the pandemic, I signed the American Rescue Plan that provided $350 billion to states and cities that they could use to keep communities safe, retain and hire more police officers, pay overtime and bonuses, expand benefits for disabled first responders, and support violent [violence] prevention strategies. Places like Detroit, Toledo, Kansas City, Houston put more cops on the beat.  It was one of the largest federal investments ever made in public safety. I also signed the most sweeping gun safety law in nearly 30 years to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, while strengthening background checks and — for gun purchases, cracking down on illegal gun sales, reining in “ghost guns” that are increasingly found at crime scenes. My Safer America Plan invests $37 billion in public safety to hire many more police officers trained in community policing, to build trust, to solve crimes faster. I’m grateful for the partnership of Jim and the other law enforcement officers that we worked together on my executive order on policing. My Safer America Plan also makes investments to support programs that are proven to tackle the root causes of crime, to ensure you have the psychologists and the social workers responding to crises alongside you. We also know that police officers deal with unbelievable stress.  Every time you respond to a call, execute a warrant, or conduct a traffic spot [stop], there’s a tremendous risk: fear of ambush, anxiety of not knowing what’s behind that door, the trauma of bearing witness to the most horrible tragedies imaginable. That’s why our administration is laser-focused on providing you with the mental health and wellness resources you need and deserve. That’s why I also signed extended benefits for families of officers who tragically died by suicide — honoring Capitol Police officers like Howard Liebengood, who defended the Capitol on January 6th, whose dad I knew well when he served as Sergeant at Arms in the United States Senate. We remember all our law enforcements who defend this Capitol and our democracy on that terrible day. And Congress should also pass the Honoring Fallen Heroes Act that extends benefits to first responders who are exposed to toxic substances and die of cancer. I know so many of you still carry the physical and invisible wounds of your service.  We can never thank you enough for your courage, your service, and your sacrifice. You risk your lives every day for the safety of the people you don’t even know.  That’s why each of you, each and every one of you, is a hero. It’s no accident that violent crime is near a record 50-year low — a 50-year low.  It’s because of extraordinary efforts by all of you in your communities, together with historic steps taken to support you — to stop the flow of illegal guns, to hold gun traffickers accountable for crimes. It matters, and it matters a lot. I often say: There is no greater responsibility of government than ensuring the safety of the American people and those who sacrifice to protect us all. We’ve made a lot of progress, but there’s still much more to be done. Let me close.  To the families here today, my wife and I know how hard it is in different ways, but I promise you the day will come again when the memory of your loved one will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye.  It may take a couple seasons, but it will come. And I hope you always remember one thing that is never fully lost: your love for them and their love for you. God bless you all.  May God protect law enforcement.  And may God protect our troops.  (Applause.) 12:30 P.M. EDT

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How Biden Adopted Trump’s Trade War With China

The president has proposed new barriers to electric vehicles, steel and other goods..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise, and this is “The Daily.”

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Donald Trump upended decades of American policy when he started a trade war with China. Many thought that President Biden would reverse those policies. Instead, he’s stepping them up. Today, my colleague, Jim Tankersley, explains.

It’s Monday, May 13.

Jim, it’s very nice to have you in the studio.

It’s so great to be here, Sabrina. Thank you so much.

So we are going to talk today about something I find very interesting and I know you’ve been following. We’re in the middle of a presidential campaign. You are an economics reporter looking at these two candidates, and you’ve been trying to understand how Trump and Biden are thinking about our number one economic rival, and that is China.

As we know, Trump has been very loud and very clear about his views on China. What about Biden?

Well, no one is going to accuse President Biden of being as loud as former President Trump. But I think he’s actually been fairly clear in a way that might surprise a lot of people about how he sees economic competition with China.

We’re going after China in the wrong way. China is stealing intellectual property. China is conditioning —

And Biden has, kind of surprisingly, sounded a lot, in his own Joe Biden way, like Trump.

They’re not competing. They’re cheating. They’re cheating. And we’ve seen the damage here in America.

He has been very clear that he thinks China is cheating in trade.

The bottom line is I want fair competition with China, not conflict. And we’re in a stronger position to win the economic competition of the 21st century against China or anyone else because we’re investing in America and American workers again. Finally.

And maybe the most surprising thing from a policy perspective is just how much Biden has built on top of the anti-China moves that Trump made and really is the verge of his own sort of trade war with China.

Interesting. So remind us, Jim, what did Trump do when he actually came into office? We, of course, remember Trump really talking about China and banging that drum hard during the campaign, but remind us what he actually did when he came into office.

Yeah, it’s really instructive to start with the campaign, because Trump is talking about China in some very specific ways.

We have a $500 billion deficit, trade deficit, with China. We’re going to turn it around. And we have the cards. Don’t forget —

They’re ripping us off. They’re stealing our jobs.

They’re using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild China, and many other countries are doing the same thing. So we’re losing our good jobs, so many.

The economic context here is the United States has lost a couple of million jobs in what was called the China shock of the early 2000s. And Trump is tapping into that.

But when the Chinese come in, and they want to make great trade deals — and they make the best trade deals, and not anymore. When I’m there, we turn it around, folks. We turn it around. We have —

And what he’s promising as president is that he’s going to bring those jobs back.

I’ll be the greatest jobs president that God ever created. I’ll take them back from China, from Japan.

And not just any jobs, good-paying manufacturing jobs, all of it — clothes, shoes, steel, all of these jobs that have been lost that American workers, particularly in the industrial Midwest, used to do. Trump’s going to bring them back with policy meant to rebalance the trade relationship with China to get a better deal with China.

So he’s saying China is eating our lunch and has been for decades. That’s the reason why factory workers in rural North Carolina don’t have work. It’s those guys. And I’m going to change that.

Right. And he likes to say it’s because our leaders didn’t cut the right deal with them, so I’m going to make a better deal. And to get a better deal, you need leverage. So a year into his presidency, he starts taking steps to amass leverage with China.

And so what does that look like?

Just an hour ago, surrounded by a hand-picked group of steelworkers, President Trump revealed he was not bluffing.

It starts with tariffs. Tariffs are taxes that the government imposes on imports.

Two key global imports into America now face a major new barrier.

Today, I’m defending America’s national security by placing tariffs on foreign imports of steel and aluminum.

And in this case, it’s imports from a lot of different countries, but particularly China.

Let’s take it straight to the White House. The president of the United States announcing new trade tariffs against China. Let’s listen in.

This has been long in the making. You’ve heard —

So Trump starts, in 2018, this series of tariffs that he’s imposing on all sorts of things — washing machines, solar panels, steel, aluminum. I went to Delaware to a lighting store at that time, I remember, where basically everything they sold came from China and was subject to the Trump tariffs, because that’s where lighting was made now.

Interesting.

Hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods now start falling under these Trump tariffs. The Chinese, of course, don’t take this lying down.

China says it is not afraid of a trade war with the US, and it’s fighting back against President Trump with its own tariffs on US goods.

They do their own retaliatory tariffs. Now American exports to China cost more for Chinese consumers. And boom, all of a sudden, we are in the midst of a full-blown trade war between the United States and Beijing.

Right. And that trade war was kind of a shock because for decades, politicians had avoided that kind of policy. It was the consensus of the political class in the United States that there should not be tariffs like that. It should be free trade. And Trump just came in and blew up the consensus.

Yeah. And Sabrina, I may have mentioned this once or 700 times before on this program, but I talk to a lot of economists in my job.

Yeah, it’s weird. I talk to a lot of economists. And in 2018 when this started, there were very, very, very few economists of any political persuasion who thought that imposing all these tariffs were a good idea. Republican economists in particular, this is antithetical to how they think about the world, which is low taxes, free trade. And even Democratic economists who thought they had some problems with the way free trade had been conducted did not think that Trump’s “I’m going to get a better deal” approach was going to work. And so there was a lot of criticism at the time, and a lot of politicians really didn’t like it, a lot of Democrats, many Republicans. And it all added up to just a real, whoa, I don’t think this is going to work.

So that begs the question, did it?

Well, it depends on what you mean by work. Economically, it does not appear to have achieved what Trump wanted. There’s no evidence yet in the best economic research that’s been done on this that enormous amounts of manufacturing jobs came back to the United States because of Trump’s tariffs. There was research, for example, on the tariffs on washing machines. They appear to have helped a couple thousand jobs, manufacturing jobs be created in the United States, but they also raised the price of washing machines for everybody who bought them by enough that each additional job that was created by those tariffs effectively cost consumers, like, $800,000 per job.

There’s like lots of evidence that the sectors Trump was targeting to try to help here, he didn’t. There just wasn’t a lot of employment rebound to the United States. But politically, it really worked. The tariffs were very popular. They had this effect of showing voters in those hollowed-out manufacturing areas that Trump was on their team and that he was fighting for them. Even if they didn’t see the jobs coming back, they felt like he was standing up for them.

So the research suggests this was a savvy political move by Trump. And in the process, it sort of changes the political economic landscape in both parties in the United States.

Right. So Trump made these policies that seemed, for many, many years in the American political system, fringe, isolationist, economically bad, suddenly quite palatable and even desirable to mainstream policymakers.

Yeah. Suddenly getting tough on China is something everyone wants to do across both parties. And so from a political messaging standpoint, being tough on China is now where the mainstream is. But at the same time, there is still big disagreement over whether Trump is getting tough on China in the right way, whether he’s actually being effective at changing the trade relationship with China.

Remember that Trump was imposing these tariffs as a way to get leverage for a better deal with China. Well, he gets a deal of sorts, actually, with the Chinese government, which includes some things about tariffs, and also China agreeing to buy some products from the United States. Trump spins it as this huge win, but nobody else really, including Republicans, acts like Trump has solved the problem that Trump himself has identified. This deal is not enough to make everybody go, well, everything’s great with China now. We can move on to the next thing.

China remains this huge issue. And the question of what is the most effective way to deal with them is still an animating force in politics.

Got it. So politically, huge win, but policy-wise and economically, and fundamentally, the problem of China still very much unresolved.

Absolutely.

So then Biden comes in. What does Biden do? Does he keep the tariffs on?

Biden comes to office, and there remains this real pressure from economists to roll back what they consider to be the ineffective parts of Trump’s trade policy. That includes many of the tariffs. And it’s especially true at a time when almost immediately after Biden takes office, inflation spikes. And so Americans are paying a lot of money for products, and there’s this pressure on Biden, including from inside his administration, to roll back some of the China tariffs to give Americans some relief on prices.

And Biden considers this, but he doesn’t do it. He doesn’t reverse Trump’s tariff policy. In the end, he’s actually building on it.

We’ll be right back.

So Jim, you said that Biden is actually building on Trump’s anti-China policy. What exactly does that look like?

So Biden builds on the Trump China policy in three key ways, but he does it with a really specific goal that I just want you to keep in mind as we talk about all of this, which is that Biden isn’t just trying to beat China on everything. He’s not trying to cut a better deal. Biden is trying to beat China in a specific race to own the clean-energy future.

Clean energy.

Yeah. So keep that in mind, clean energy. And the animating force behind all of the things Biden does with China is that Biden wants to beat China on what he thinks are the jobs of the future, and that’s green technology.

Got it. OK. So what does he do first?

OK. Thing number one — let’s talk about the tariffs. He does not roll them back. And actually, he builds on them. For years, for the most part, he just lets the tariffs be. His administration reviews them. And it’s only now, this week, when his administration is going to actually act on the tariffs. And what they’re going to do is raise some of them. They’re going to raise them on strategic green tech things, like electric vehicles, in order to make them more expensive.

And I think it’s important to know the backdrop here, which is since Biden has taken office, China has started flooding global markets with really low-cost green technologies. Solar panels, electric vehicles are the two really big ones. And Biden’s aides are terrified that those imports are going to wash over the United States and basically wipe out American automakers, solar panel manufacturers, that essentially, if Americans can just buy super-cheap stuff from China, they’re not going to buy it from American factories. Those factories are going to go out of business.

So Biden’s goal of manufacturing jobs in clean energy, China is really threatening that by dumping all these products on the American market.

Exactly. And so what he wants to do is protect those factories with tariffs. And that means increasing the tariffs that Trump put on electric vehicles in hopes that American consumers will find them too expensive to buy.

But doesn’t that go against Biden’s goal of clean energy and things better for the environment? Lots of mass-market electric vehicles into the United States would seem to advance that goal. And here, he’s saying, no, you can’t come in.

Right, because Biden isn’t just trying to reduce emissions at all costs. He wants to reduce emissions while boosting American manufacturing jobs. He doesn’t want China to get a monopoly in these areas. And he’s also, in particular, worried about the politics of lost American manufacturing jobs. So Biden does not want to just let you buy cheaper Chinese technologies, even if that means reducing emissions.

He wants to boost American manufacturing of those things to compete with China, which brings us to our second thing that Biden has done to build on Trump’s China policy, which is that Biden has started to act like the Chinese government in particular areas by showering American manufacturers with subsidies.

I see. So dumping government money into American businesses.

Yes, tax incentives, direct grants. This is a way that China has, in the past decades, built its manufacturing dominance, is with state support for factories. Biden is trying to do that in particular targeted industries, including electric vehicles, solar power, wind power, semiconductors. Biden has passed a bunch of legislation that showers those sectors with incentives and government support in hopes of growing up much faster American industry.

Got it. So basically, Biden is trying to beat China at its own game.

Yeah, he’s essentially using tariffs to build a fortress around American industry so that he can train the troops to fight the clean energy battle with China.

And the troops being American companies.

Yes. It’s like, we’re going to give them protection — protectionist policy — in order to get up to size, get up to strength as an army in this battle for clean energy dominance against the Chinese.

Got it. So he’s trying to build up the fortress. What’s the third thing Biden does? You mentioned three things.

Biden does not want the United States going it alone against China. He’s trying to build an international coalition, wealthy countries and some other emerging countries that are going to take on China and try to stop the Chinese from using their trade playbook to take over all these new emerging industrial markets.

But, Jim, why? What does the US get from bringing our allies into this trade war? Why does the US want that?

Some of this really is about stopping China from gaining access to new markets. It’s like, if you put the low-cost Chinese exports on a boat, and it’s going around the world, looking for a dock to stop and offload the stuff and sell it, Biden wants barriers up at every possible port. And he wants factories in those places that are competing with the Chinese.

And a crucial fact to know here is that the United States and Europe, they are behind China when it comes to clean-energy technology. The Chinese government has invested a lot more than America and Europe in building up its industrial capacity for clean energy. So America and its allies want to deny China dominance of those markets and to build up their own access to them.

And they’re behind, so they’ve got to get going. It’s like they’re in a race, and they’re trailing.

Yeah, it’s an economic race to own these industries, and it’s that global emissions race. They also want to be bringing down fossil-fuel emissions faster than they currently are, and this is their plan.

So I guess, Jim, the question in my mind is, Trump effectively broke the seal, right? He started all of these tariffs. He started this trade war with China. But he did it in this kind of jackhammer, non-targeted way, and it didn’t really work economically. Now Biden is taking it a step further. But the question is, is his effort here going to work?

The answer to whether it’s going to work really depends on what your goals are. And Biden and Trump have very different goals. If Trump wins the White House back, he has made very clear that his goal is to try to rip the United States trade relationship with China even more than he already has. He just wants less trade with China and more stuff of all types made in the United States that used to be made in China. That’s a very difficult goal, but it’s not Biden’s goal.

Biden’s goal is that he wants America to make more stuff in these targeted industries. And there is real skepticism from free-market economists that his industrial policies will work on that, but there’s a lot of enthusiasm for it from a new strain of Democratic economists, in particular, who believe that the only chance Biden has to make that work is by pulling all of these levers, by doing the big subsidies and by putting up the tariffs, that you have to have both the troops training and the wall around them. And if it’s going to work, he has to build on the Trump policies. And so I guess you’re asking, will it work? It may be dependent upon just how far he’s willing to go on the subsidies and the barriers.

There’s a chance of it.

So, Jim, at the highest level, whatever the economic outcome here, it strikes me that these moves by Biden are pretty remarkably different from the policies of the Democratic Party over the decades, really going in the opposite direction. I’m thinking of Bill Clinton and NAFTA in the 1990s. Free trade was the real central mantra of the Democratic Party, really of both parties.

Yeah, and Biden is a real break from Clinton. And Clinton was the one who actually signed the law that really opened up trade with China, and Biden’s a break from that. He’s a break from even President Obama when he was vice president. Biden is doing something different. He’s breaking from that Democratic tradition, and he’s building on what Trump did, but with some throwback elements to it from the Roosevelt administration and the Eisenhower administration. This is this grand American tradition of industrial policy that gave us the space race and the interstate highway system. It’s the idea of using the power of the federal government to build up specific industrial capacities. It was in vogue for a time. It fell out of fashion and was replaced by this idea that the government should get out of the way, and you let the free market drive innovation. And now that industrial policy idea is back in vogue, and Biden is doing it.

So it isn’t just a shift or an evolution. It’s actually a return to big government spending of the ‘30s and the ‘40s and the ‘50s of American industrialism of that era. So what goes around comes around.

Yeah, and it’s a return to that older economic theory with new elements. And it’s in part because of the almost jealousy that American policymakers have of China and the success that it’s had building up its own industrial base. But it also has this political element to it. It’s, in part, animated by the success that Trump had making China an issue with working-class American voters.

You didn’t have to lose your job to China to feel like China was a stand-in for the forces that have taken away good-paying middle-class jobs from American workers who expected those jobs to be there. And so Trump tapped into that. And Biden is trying to tap into that. And the political incentives are pushing every future American president to do more of that. So I think we are going to see even more of this going forward, and that’s why we’re in such an interesting moment right now.

So we’re going to see more fortresses.

More fortresses, more troops, more money.

Jim, thank you.

You’re welcome.

Here’s what else you should know today. Intense fighting between Hamas fighters and Israeli troops raged in parts of Northern Gaza over the weekend, an area where Israel had declared Hamas defeated earlier in the war, only to see the group reconstitute in the power vacuum that was left behind. The persistent lawlessness raised concerns about the future of Gaza among American officials. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on “Face the Nation” on Sunday that the return of Hamas to the North left him concerned that Israeli victories there would be, quote, “not sustainable,” and said that Israel had not presented the United States with any plan for when the war ends.

And the United Nations aid agency in Gaza said early on Sunday that about 300,000 people had fled from Rafah over the past week, the city in the enclave’s southernmost tip where more than a million displaced Gazans had sought shelter from Israeli bombardments elsewhere. The UN made the announcement hours after the Israeli government issued new evacuation orders in Rafah, deepening fears that the Israeli military was preparing to invade the city despite international warnings.

Today’s episode was produced by Nina Feldman, Carlos Prieto, Sidney Harper, and Luke Vander Ploeg. It was edited by M.J. Davis Lin, Brendan Klinkenberg, and Lisa Chow. Contains original music by Diane Wong, Marion Lozano, and Dan Powell, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

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• May 14, 2024   •   35:20 Voters Want Change. In Our Poll, They See It in Trump.
• May 13, 2024   •   27:46 How Biden Adopted Trump’s Trade War With China
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Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Produced by Nina Feldman ,  Carlos Prieto ,  Sydney Harper and Luke Vander Ploeg

Edited by M.J. Davis Lin ,  Brendan Klinkenberg and Lisa Chow

Original music by Diane Wong ,  Marion Lozano and Dan Powell

Engineered by Alyssa Moxley

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

Donald Trump upended decades of American policy when he started a trade war with China. Many thought that President Biden would reverse those policies. Instead, he’s stepping them up.

Jim Tankersley, who covers economic policy at the White House, explains.

On today’s episode

Jim Tankersley , who covers economic policy at the White House for The New York Times.

Background reading

Mr. Biden, competing with Mr. Trump to be tough on China , called for steel tariffs last month.

The Biden administration may raise tariffs on electric vehicles from China to 100 percent .

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