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News & Current Events Mar 22, 2026 at 3:03 AM

Which Presidential speech is better?

Posted by 2MillionMiler

Armageddon vs Independence Day Armageddon President: I address you tonight not as the President of the United States, not as the leader of a country, but as a citizen of humanity. We are faced with the very gravest of challenges. The Bible calls this day "Armageddon" - the end of all things. And yet, for the first time in the history of the planet, a species has the technology to prevent its own extinction. All of you praying with us need to know that everything that can be done to prevent this disaster is being called into service. The human thirst for excellence, knowledge; every step up the ladder of science; every adventurous reach into space; all of our combined modern technologies and imaginations; even the wars that we've fought have provided us the tools to wage this terrible battle. Through all of the chaos that is our history; through all of the wrongs and the discord; through all of the pain and suffering; through all of our times, there is one thing that has nourished our souls, and elevated our species above its origins, and that is our courage. The dreams of an entire planet are focused tonight on those fourteen brave souls traveling into the heavens. And may we all, citizens the world over, see these events through. God speed, and good luck to you. Independence Day Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. "Mankind." That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!
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101 Comments

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RongTern Mar 22, 2026 +356
Independence Day hands down
356
nonitoni Mar 22, 2026 +71
Was my answer before I even opened the post
71
oftheunusual Mar 22, 2026 +18
Yeah to me this wasn't even a question. I'm with both of you.
18
Dookie_boy Mar 22, 2026 +17
I don't even remember Armageddon's president.
17
Br0boc0p Mar 22, 2026 +11
People cheered at the drive in for that one.
11
SummerOfMayhem Mar 22, 2026 +10
I got goosebumps just reading and remembering the speech. Beautiful yet fiery delivery
10
421BIF Mar 22, 2026 +4
and its not even close.
4
CupcakeCloudy Mar 22, 2026 +3
I agree with you!
3
revchewie Mar 22, 2026 +3
Same. Independence Day’s speech, unlike Armageddon’s, is memorable.
3
DaveInLondon89 Mar 22, 2026 +2
o7
2
darkphoenix9137 Mar 22, 2026 +131
Which one of them jumped into a f****** fighter jet and kicked some alien ass vs just sitting on their ass waiting for someone else to do something?
131
Magnetic_Eel Mar 22, 2026 +55
It’s worse than that, the president in Armageddon tries to remote detonate the nuke before they drill the hole in the asteroid, which would waste the bomb and doom the earth. The president in Armageddon is essentially the only human antagonist in the movie.
55
YJSubs Mar 22, 2026 +19
Really? Huh, no wonder I didn't remember much of the scene. It was that bad. I do remember Liv Tyler is smoking hot though.
19
orangesuave Mar 22, 2026 +8
Still true
8
space_coyote_86 Mar 22, 2026 +6
So damn frustrating when Truman tells him the whole planet will be doomed but then he passes the phone over to Keith David and orders him to do it anyway. This is one order you shouldn't follow and you f****** know it!
6
Vanquisher1000 Mar 22, 2026 +3
To be fair, the president was acting on the recommendation of his advisors. They told him that not much progress had been made drilling and communications with the team had been lost, and these things were true. If they waited, they would lose control over the nuclear bomb, too.
3
Magnetic_Eel Mar 22, 2026 +4
Then he’s just an idiot for taking their advice over the head of NASA and the genius who actually developed the plan to save the world. “I know the president's chief scientific advisor, we were at MIT together. You really don't wanna take the advice from a man who got a C- in astrophysics. The presidents advisors are wrong... and I'm right”
4
Riverjig Mar 23, 2026 +1
C's do in fact get degrees.
1
hops_and_nugs Mar 22, 2026 +229
I don’t even know if this is close… I consider the speech from our President in Independence Day is one of the best speeches in movie history. The salute we get from the guy after says how we all felt.
229
CxOrillion Mar 22, 2026 +60
Plus it immediately gets followed by "I'm a combat pilot. I belong in the air."
60
Clonekiller2pt0 Mar 22, 2026 +14
That's a man who knows his skills are best where they are.
14
NY_State-a-Mind Mar 22, 2026 +7
Id expect no less from Lone Starr
7
chizmanzini Mar 22, 2026 +1
Good luck, buddy!
1
supes1 Mar 22, 2026 +31
Bill Pullman absolutely nails the delivery too.
31
Apocalyptic0n3 Mar 22, 2026 +4
The delivery is what elevates it to the status it has. Writers did a decent job, but Pullman killed it.
4
Jokerzrival Mar 22, 2026 +13
I feel like there's got to be movies with Presidential speeches at times of crisis better than Armageddon. But as I sit here trying to think of them I realize..probably not because I very much remember Independence Day but can't think of speeches I like as much and certainly not more than independence day.
13
supes1 Mar 22, 2026 +17
> but can't think of speeches I like as much and certainly not more than independence day In terms of *presidential* speeches, I'm not sure it's topped. Other speeches that stand out to me include Mel Gibson in Braveheart, Pacino in Any Given Sunday, maybe Viggo in Return of the King. But obviously those weren't given by presidents.
17
Jokerzrival Mar 22, 2026 +15
Theodens speech in Return of the King? He's like a president..sort of.
15
hedonisticaltruism Mar 22, 2026 +15
Well, I didn't vote for him.
15
mrbadxampl Mar 22, 2026 +1
you don't *vote* for king...
1
I_paintball Mar 22, 2026 +5
Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour giving the we shall fight on the beaches speech is awesome.
5
ECrispy Mar 22, 2026
Churchill was a racist mass murderer
0
Ivotedforher Mar 22, 2026 +4
Deep Impact had a dueling speech with Armageddon, too: President Beck: We watched as the bombs shattered the second comet into a million pieces of ice and rock that burned harmlessly in our atmosphere and lit up the sky for an hour. Still, we were left with the devastation of the first. The waters reached as far inland as the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. It washed away farms and towns, forests and skyscrapers. But, the water receded. The wave hit Europe and Africa too. Millions were lost, and countless more left homeless. But the waters receded. Cities fall, but they are rebuilt. And heroes die, but they are remembered. We honor them with every brick we lay, with every field we sow, With every child we comfort, and then teach to rejoice in what we have been re-given. Our planet. Our home. So now, let us begin.
4
Jedi-El1823 Mar 22, 2026 +1
It's not a time of crisis, but there's Andrew Shepherd's speech at the end of The American President.
1
LaconicLacedaemonian Mar 22, 2026 +32
i got literal shivers reading it. No question it's better.
32
charliefoxtrot9 Mar 22, 2026 +4
It was basically Shakespeare, so.
4
ForrestGump6531 Mar 22, 2026 +124
Independence Day. I go from 6 to midnight every time I hear him utter those first two words *”Good morning.”*
124
Oenonaut Mar 22, 2026 +25
> 6 to midnight Lol
25
FX114 Mar 22, 2026 +120
The fact that I didn't remember Armageddon had a president speech says a lot.
120
SupaKoopa714 Mar 22, 2026 +28
I've probably seen both movies the same amount of times and I can hear the Independence Day speech like a friggen recording with perfect inflection in my head, and... yeah, I have zero memory of there being a speech in Armageddon.
28
nighthawk_md Mar 22, 2026 +5
The president wasn't an on screen character in Armageddon and they did a montage over his speech.
5
4RealzReddit Mar 22, 2026 +1
I think deep impact had a solid one as I recall.
1
Dead_Starks Mar 22, 2026 +1
Morgan Freeman saying some of us are gonna die but humanity will live on.
1
greenpill98 Mar 22, 2026 +48
Armageddon's speech is serviceable, but not all that memorable. Independence Day's speech is badass and worth a mic drop.
48
robot_ankles Mar 22, 2026 +24
Although a line spoken *during* the Armageddon speech brings me to tears ("That man's not a salesman...") the Independence Day presidential speech makes me want to pick up a wrench and clobber an alien upside the head.
24
RedRyder131 Mar 22, 2026 +12
Rumor is Bill Pullman gets drunk and has done the speech on top of bar stools in Manhattan. I read it online once and I'm choosing to repeat it and definitely with zero verification
12
Awkward_Bison_267 Mar 22, 2026 +33
Independence Day. Easily.
33
EngineeringDevil Mar 22, 2026 +15
Easily Independence Day
15
Geth_ Mar 22, 2026 +8
For those that get the itch to watch Independence Day from this, as an FYI for those unaware, there is an Independence Day Extended Edition with about 8 minutes of additional footage. It adds some key scenes to explain how they know how to pilot the alien spacecraft as well as how the "computer virus" works. It's still a "Hollywood solution" but for me, it's better than what was originally given.
8
alopgeek Mar 22, 2026 +2
It also explains why the command center is surprised when Russel announces that he’s “packing”
2
Rocklove Mar 22, 2026 +1
>how the "computer virus" works We already know how it works: Jeff Goldblum uses the internet to digitally upload a gif of a laughing skull to the alien computer, which makes then alien go "eeehh?" while doing a headtilt and then Will Smith punches it in the face and says "Welcome to Earth".
1
TheStabbyCyclist Mar 22, 2026 +15
Independence Day.
15
goldblumspowerbook Mar 22, 2026 +6
My college Shakespeare professor played and had us analyze the president speech scene from Independence Day as a modern day example of the Saint Crispin Day speech from Henry V, calling the warriors to fight in the battle to redefine a holiday as the day they would make history and become legends in their own right. So that one.
6
ulysesmg Mar 22, 2026 +1
Oh yeah, “Once more unto the breach, dear friends”
1
OptimusSublime Mar 22, 2026 +11
Independence Day and it's not even close.
11
ChoppyHorizon Mar 22, 2026 +5
ID4 by a long shot. The ragged, fierce delivery by Pullman, having lost his wife and protecting his daughter, just sends chills down my spine. He was 💯 in it.
5
gogojack Mar 22, 2026 +4
Between those two? Independence Day for sure. As someone else has already said, I don't even remember the speech from Armageddon. But both pale in comparison to Andrew Shepherd's speech in "The American President."
4
Eject_The_Warp_Core Mar 22, 2026 +3
text only, I think I like Armageddon's better. it's the performance that sells the Independence Day speech
3
WaterStoryMark Mar 23, 2026 +2
Totally agreed. Nobody is reading these. It's a better speech. But Pullman didn't deliver it.
2
tootapple Mar 22, 2026 +8
Independence Day because the president was actually involved in the attack.
8
nwbrown Mar 22, 2026 +3
ID4 and it's not even close.
3
TheRaeynn Mar 22, 2026 +3
Independence Day, absolutely. Fun fact, I read once that the extras in the speech scene were not directed to cheer or applaud at the end. Bill Pullman's performance was so good, all the reactions were unprompted and kept in the movie.
3
voxadam Mar 22, 2026 +4
The "placeholder speech" from *Independence Day* rivals Sorkin's work in *The West Wing* but it's really Pullman's delivery that puts it over the top.
4
nicolasknight Mar 22, 2026 +3
Came here to say "of those two, yeah ID but watch WW for an actually GREAT speech. "We did no seek nor did we provoke!"" Still remember hearing it the first time.
3
Rabid_Chocobo Mar 22, 2026 +2
Independence Day, easily. I still rewatch it from time to time
2
texmidcpl Mar 22, 2026 +2
Id4 is a great speech the best out of this option. May i also bring up the end speech from The American President. Delivered amazingly and makes sense today.
2
WithoutCaution Mar 22, 2026 +2
I really hope OP lost a bet or something, cause this question is dumb! The Independence Day speech is the benchmark that ALL movie speeches aspire to.
2
SixFootTurkey_ Mar 22, 2026 +2
Deep Impact
2
MBTbuddy Mar 22, 2026 +3
Independence Day by a mile but I sometimes listen to the Armageddon speech. I think the writing is better there but the delivery of Independence Day is an all timer
3
velvet_petalsky_61 Mar 22, 2026 +1
Movie speeches win purely because they don’t have to deal with reality. They can just go full inspirational mode.
1
OwslaPrimeDirective Mar 22, 2026 +1
No question. Independence Day. Truly an awe-inspiring and inspirational speech, delivered perfectly with just a sprinkling of aggression by Bill Pullman.
1
Drummal Mar 22, 2026 +1
ID4 all the way
1
Fire_Mission Mar 22, 2026 +1
Independence Day
1
SalukiKnightX Mar 22, 2026 +1
To test which worked best, I did a reading of both (I barely remember the Armageddon monologue). In the end, the Independence Day monologue gave me goosebumps (always has been my barometer for what works and if it affects me).
1
Johncurtisreeve Mar 22, 2026 +1
Im sorry but the president in armageddon has a very minor role so his speech doesnt carry as much weight
1
zirky Mar 22, 2026 +1
i didn’t even remember that there was a presidential speech in armageddon. so i guess not that one
1
cluckodoom Mar 22, 2026 +1
Independence Day. Not even close
1
aircooledJenkins Mar 22, 2026 +1
Seeing as I don't remember the Armageddon speech at all, I've got to give it to Independence Day
1
Decent_Management449 Mar 22, 2026 +1
President Andre Curtis
1
threeleggedcats Mar 22, 2026 +1
Make more options!
1
Spyd3rs Mar 22, 2026 +1
I did the independence day speech for a monologue in my 7th grade drama class. I felt like I nailed it, but nobody clapped when I finished. I stood there awkwardly in silence for a few moments until I remembered to say 'scene,' and *then* they clapped. Got full points for it, too. Anyways, I completely forgot Armageddon had a President or a speech.
1
NY_State-a-Mind Mar 22, 2026 +1
People who havent watched the movie in 20 years remember the Independence Day speech
1
JunkHead1979 Mar 22, 2026 +1
I was expecting this to be Armageddon vs deep impact. Lol.
1
ztreHdrahciR Mar 22, 2026 +1
Can I do a write in vote for Lukas Haas in Mars Attacks?
1
ulysesmg Mar 22, 2026 +1
American President, because of Michael Douglas
1
ulysesmg Mar 22, 2026 +1
Also Armageddon sucks
1
bertzie Mar 22, 2026 +1
Independence Day is probably the best speech ever put to film.
1
cynric42 Mar 22, 2026 +1
Wow, really surprised to see all the comments here. The Independence speech feels so over the top patriotic, it's kinda cringe worthy. Give the guy a flag in one hand, a can of beer in the other and have an eagle sit on his shoulder and you'd have the perfect image for that speech. The Armageddon speech is more grounded and while the religious thing doesn't really resonate with me, the whole theme fits very well. The speech is more presidential, less redneck.
1
TheLastSalamanca Mar 23, 2026 +1
Not even close for me. Armageddon speech all the way. 
1
jpuzz Mar 24, 2026 +1
Michael Douglas from “The American President”…. Doesn’t have the same ‘end of the world’ stakes, but his presser speech at the end is so good.
1
VampireHunterAlex Mar 22, 2026 +1
Oh IDP no question: But maybe reframe your question, cause that Armageddon one rules too.
1
too_oh_ate Mar 22, 2026 -1
The Independe Day speech is corny, and reading it without Pullman speaking it really shows how bad it is. It's like a middle schooler wrote it. No real president would ever give a speech that poor.
-1
Vanquisher1000 Mar 22, 2026 +4
The speech was 'poor' because it wasn't supposed to have been a prepared speech. Thomas Whitmore didn't have anything prepared, but he felt he had to say something to 'rally the men' because this counterattack was a long shot.
4
too_oh_ate Mar 23, 2026 +1
Any politician, let alone a respectable president, could do better than that in real life, let alone in a movie. It's just bad writing.
1
nighthawk_md Mar 22, 2026 +2
Ummmm, yeah, about that
2
probablynotaskrull Mar 22, 2026
Independence Day obviously, but can I add the Armageddon speech is nonsensical in the first sentence? “Citizen of humanity” makes no sense. Member of humanity? Sure. Fellow human being? Okay. But a species doesn’t have citizens. Which of these apply? (Hint: none of them.) 1 : native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it. 2 : an inhabitant of a city or town, especially one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman 3 : a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state
0
ehrgeiz91 Mar 22, 2026 -10
Don’t know what the Reddit boner is for Independence Day. It’s so corny. Armageddon at least tried to be serious.
-10
SteakandTrach Mar 22, 2026 +9
Armageddon tried to be serious? You need to find the commentary track for Armageddon even though commentary tracks are sadly no longer a thing. It’s legendary.
9
ehrgeiz91 Mar 22, 2026 -6
I’ve heard, I don’t really care about the commentary. The movie is a tearjerker.
-6
ravia Mar 22, 2026 -2
It's sad to me that you or anyone is impressed by either of these. They're just mid or low level c*** for pop movies. Can't come anywhere near the Gettysburg address or the introduction to the Declaration of Independence, both written by real minds of seriously great thinking. I hated the ID speech the second I heard it. I still think it's a c***, pandering movie.
-2
PrimeIntellect Mar 22, 2026 -4
Armageddon is trash, independence day speech is one of the best from any movie
-4
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