During his commencement speech at the United States Military Academy at West Point on May 24, US President Donald Trump announced a $1 trillion US military budget, vowing that he would not cut even 10 cents. If realized, this would mark the beginning of a trillion-dollar defense era as early as fiscal year 2026.
As the world’s largest military spender, changes to the US defense budget always draw global attention. Since FY 2021, the spending has increased from $740.5 billion to $895 billion in FY 2025. Though Trump called for defense cuts in February to address domestic fiscal challenges, he quickly reversed course. Just over a month later, he proposed the trillion-dollar plan during a press event with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and now he has declared the proposal in front of the US’ most elite military personnel.
Trump’s push for this massive defense expansion is rooted in both political strategy and structural interests. On the one hand, it is about fulfilling his campaign promise to rebuild the military, which serves as a key part of his effort to solidify support among voters, particularly those in regions home to defense contractors. On the other hand, increasing military spending significantly benefits the US military-industrial complex, which includes political elites, social groups and large corporations. These stakeholders, in turn, reward Trump with political donations, lobbying and other means, ultimately helping him consolidate power and push forward his policy agenda more effectively.
At a deeper level, Trump has consistently prioritized US military greatness, taking it as the cornerstone of national security and international influence. For him, ramping up defense spending could build a stronger military to assert the country’s global dominance. By doing so, he seeks to leave a lasting legacy in the military domain and enhance his position in US history.
However, such a bold move is not without consequences. It would place immense pressure on the government’s already strained finances. The US public debt has surpassed $36 trillion, and the budget deficit in the first half of FY 2025 has exceeded $1.3 trillion. Allocating even more funds to defense would further inflate the deficit, posing a serious threat to the long-term stability of the US economy. To compensate for the surge in military expenditure, the Trump administration would likely slash spending in healthcare, education and social security — measures that would impact the welfare of ordinary citizens and exacerbate public discontent.
At home, the plan has already sparked intense debates and deepened partisan divides, intensifying political polarization. More seriously, the proposed expansion could trigger regional and even global arms races, escalating international tensions. As more resources are funneled into the military sector, investment in other critical areas such as economic development, environmental protection and public health will diminish, making global development goals increasingly out of reach.
In essence, the Trump administration’s trillion-dollar defense ambition can be seen as a hysterical response to the country’s anxiety over its waning global dominance. As Forbes bluntly put it, “Pushing for a trillion dollar Pentagon budget would be a trillion dollar blunder.”
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