Trump Unveils Ambitious $175 Billion "Golden Dome" Missile Defense Plan

President Donald Trump has revealed bold new details about his proposed multibillion-dollar “Golden Dome” missile defense system, pledging that it will be completed before he leaves office.

“We’ll have it done in three years,” Trump told reporters during a briefing in the Oval Office on Tuesday. “Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles—even those launched from the other side of the world.”

Major defense contractors and tech giants, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX, are already vying for the opportunity to build the futuristic shield. Companies are reportedly pitching their proposals directly to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. However, defense experts remain skeptical about the proposed timeline, projected cost, and overall feasibility of such an unprecedented project.

While details are still sparse, the Golden Dome appears to take inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome—a system designed to intercept short-range missiles targeting populated areas. But Trump’s vision is on a far grander scale: a space-based defense system that could protect the entire United States—a country 450 times the size of Israel—from ballistic and hypersonic missile threats.

The estimated price tag? A staggering $175 billion. Trump said the project will be overseen by General Michael A. Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations at the U.S. Space Force. He also claimed that $25 billion will come from his proposed spending cuts and tax overhaul package, which he’s urging House Republicans to support.

In a surprising twist, Trump revealed that Canada has expressed interest in joining the initiative. “Canada has called us,” he said. “They want to be part of the Golden Dome and to be protected by it.” The office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed ongoing talks with U.S. officials regarding a new security and economic partnership, which would include collaboration on missile defense through NORAD and the Golden Dome.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon presented the White House with multiple development options—ranging from small to large-scale implementations. Although Trump did not reveal which plan was chosen, he confirmed, “We’ve selected an architecture for this state-of-the-art system.”

However, not everyone is convinced. Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery told CNN that such a system could take 7 to 10 years to build, even under ideal conditions—and would likely only protect key government sites and major cities. Other analysts warned that the true cost could soar well beyond Trump’s estimate, potentially reaching several hundred billion dollars or more.

For decades, the U.S. has floated the idea of a comprehensive missile defense shield, but none have materialized due to technological and financial hurdles.

The urgency is rising, though. A recent unclassified report from the Defense Intelligence Agency warned that adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have the capability to strike the U.S. mainland using ballistic missiles, long-range cruise missiles, bombers, and hypersonic weapons.

Constructing a system of this scale will require a highly coordinated effort involving multiple government agencies and private contractors—marking what could be one of the most complex and expensive defense undertakings in American history.