President Trump seeks a 50% hike in the US defence budget to $1.5 trillion, citing dangerous times and funding from new tariffs.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has proposed increasing the US defence budget by 50% next year to $1.5 trillion.
He announced the plan on his Truth Social platform, citing “very troubled and dangerous times.”
“I have determined that, for the Good of our Country, especially in these very troubled and dangerous times, our Military Budget for the year 2027 should not be $1 Trillion Dollars, but rather $1.5 Trillion Dollars,” Trump said.
He stated this would fund a “‘Dream Military'” to keep the nation “SAFE and SECURE.”
Trump claimed the increase is possible due to revenue from the sweeping tariffs he has imposed since returning to office.
The United States is already the world’s largest military spender by a wide margin.
A budget of $1.5 trillion would extend its financial lead over rivals China and Russia.
This announcement follows NATO allies committing last year to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
That commitment came in response to pressure from the US president.
