WATCH: President Obama's Emotional Response to SCOTUS Ruling

President Obama spoke passionately on Friday morning about the Supreme Court ruling legalizing national marriage equality.

The POTUS opened his speech by saying every generation struggles with the principle our nation was founded on -- "We are all created equal" -- and works to apply it to our changing times. He said today's decision was like a "thunderbolt," and said it will "strengthen all our communities" by providing dignity to same-sex couples. The president also applauded an end to the patchwork system of marriage laws and closed by saying, "Those countless, often anonymous heroes; they deserve our thanks. They should be very proud. America should be very proud."

Watch a portion of the speech below, via Mother Jones.