Obama: The Egyptian People Have 'Inspired' America

In delivering prepared remarks Friday afternoon, President Barack Obama hailed the will of protesters as they cheered the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Quoting Martin Luther King, Jr., Obama remarked that "there something in the soul that cries out for freedom," and praised Egyptians for inspiring Americans, having "bent the arc of history" and putting "lie to the idea that justice must be gained through violence." In reflecting on images of parents carrying their children on their shoulders to show them what "freedom" looks like, the American president echoed protesters' chants in Arabic, translated as "we are peaceful."

He also remarked how the protests in Egypt brought together people of different faiths, noting how they are united "by the common humanity that we share."

Speaking from the Grand Foyer of the White House, Obama's remarks did little to reassure America's allies in the region and avoided speculating what the future of the Egyptian government might look like. The president's press conference reportedly followed a meeting with his national security advisers in the White House Situation Room.

The president concluded that the United States of America "will continue to be a friend and partner to Egypt."