Trump Announces $175 Billion ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense Plan

WASHINGTON: Former US President Donald Trump has unveiled new details of a massive missile defense initiative called the Golden Dome, a $175 billion plan designed to shield the United States from global threats, including missiles launched from space. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the system would be fully operational within three years and completed before the end of his second term if re-elected, The Hill reported.

“This design for the Golden Dome will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term,” Trump said. He added, “Once fully built, the Golden Dome will be able to intercept missiles even if launched from other parts of the world—or even from space. It will be the best system we’ve ever had.”

The project will be overseen by General Michael Guetlin, the deputy chief of space operations. Trump emphasized the system’s compatibility with existing military defenses and highlighted its significance as a major leap in national security.

During the announcement, Trump was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Republican senators Dan Sullivan, Jim Banks, and Kevin Cramer. They unveiled posters featuring a golden shield over the US map, along with the quote, “It’s a very dangerous world.”

Originally introduced in January, the Golden Dome will receive an initial $25 billion under a GOP-backed reconciliation bill. However, full funding remains uncertain, as several conservative and moderate Republicans have expressed concerns and are demanding revisions to the legislation.

While Trump has pegged the overall cost at $175 billion, the Congressional Budget Office has offered a more cautious projection, suggesting that due to the system’s complexity, costs could surpass $500 billion over the next two decades.

The Golden Dome aims to counter long-range missile threats from nations like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Trump said several US states with existing defense or space infrastructure—including Alaska, Florida, Georgia, and Indiana—are likely to play key roles in the project’s implementation. Potential contractors include defense giants such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and L3Harris Technologies.

Trump stressed that the entire system would be built domestically and modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome, but scaled up significantly to intercept intercontinental threats. He said, “This is something Ronald Reagan dreamed about, but he didn’t have the technology back then. Now, we do. I promised the American people a state-of-the-art missile defense system, and that’s exactly what we’re doing today.”

He also revealed that Canada has shown interest in cooperating with the US on the initiative, and he welcomed potential collaboration with allies.

Despite the ambitious goals, the plan faces criticism from some quarters. Critics argue the US already maintains robust missile defense systems, such as interceptors in Alaska and advanced air defense platforms like THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and NASAMS. However, Trump insisted the Golden Dome would add a vital new layer of protection.

Democrats have raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding the possible involvement of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, citing Musk’s advisory role in the Trump administration and potential conflicts of interest.

Nevertheless, Trump remained confident that the Golden Dome would be a historic achievement in national defense. He framed it as a fulfillment of his earlier campaign promise to build a protective shield over the United States, stating, “We are going to put it at the highest level.”