Trump Seeks 50% Boost in Annual Defense Budget to $1.5 Trillion

President Donald Trump demanded the US boost annual defense spending by more than 50% to $1.5 trillion for 2027, an unprecedented jump that he said would be paid for by revenue brought in by the tariffs imposed over the last year.

“This will allow us to build the ‘Dream Military’ that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe,” Trump wrote on social media. He said the “tremendous Income” brought in by tariffs would allow for the spending while paying down the national debt and giving a “substantial Dividend to moderate income Patriots.”