Trump unveils plans to build a âGolden Domeâ around the USA
Image: Northrop Grumman
The US government wants to replicate Harry Potter & co.âs ability to create a forcefieldâbut instead of Hogwarts, it would cover the entire continental US.
President Trump yesterday unveiled plans for a Golden Dome missile defense shield, which would detect, track, and potentially intercept incoming missiles, including nuclear weapons. If realized, it would mark the first time that the US put weapons in space.
- Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Golden Dome will be made up of ground-based componentsâex: missile interceptorsâand space-based componentsâex: tracking satellitesâdesigned to protect the US (and potentially Canada).
The Golden questionâis it necessary?
Some say yesâŚTrump admin officials say the US needs to shift its missile defense policy away from its current focus on shooting down a handful of slower missiles shot by rogue states like North Korea or Iran, and towards adversaries like Russia and China who have major stockpiles and advanced hypersonic/ICBM technology (including missiles that can travel from Moscow to New York in ~30 minutes). And since both countries are either increasingly issuing nuclear threats (Russia), or rapidly and vastly expanding their nuclear arsenal (China), the US should proactively defend itself.
Others say noâŚCritics of the Golden Dome express doubts about the plausibilityâand immense costâof providing full missile coverage for the entire continental US. They also argue the Golden Dome is unnecessary, since the US military has already invested in protection from any potential incoming missiles via radars and ground-based interceptors.
Big picture: President Trump has said the project would cost $175 billion (an initial $25 billion is set aside in his âbig, beautiful billâ)âwhile a separate estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office pegged the cost at up to $542 billion over the next 20 years to build and maintain (though that figure could fall as launch costs improve).
Looking aheadâŚTrump has set what analysts are calling an ambitious target of having the Golden Dome operational before his second term ends.
đ Flash poll: In general, do you support President Trumpâs plan to construct a Golden Dome missile defense system?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying â
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that thereâs little doubt the United States is at risk from missile attacksâbut itâs unclear whether Golden Dome could eliminate that vulnerability with modern technology, or just throw money at an unsolvable problem.
- Others contend that US missile defense policy has long recognized the importance of mutual vulnerability among nuclear peersâand in this day and age, it seems unwise to dramatically jolt the strategic balance with a massive missile defense program.
- âThe Reality of Trumpâs Golden Domeâ âW.J. Hennigan, NY Times
- âTrump wants denuclearization but pursues a âGolden Domeâ of missile defense. Hereâs why he canât have bothâ âCelia McDowall and Ankit Panda, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
- âTrumpâs âGolden Domeâ Is Impossibleâand Itâll Make Defense Companies a Ton of Moneyâ âMatthew Gault, Gizmodo
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that Americaâs existing missile-defense system cannot easily defeat some of our adversariesâ more modern, sophisticated weaponsâso Congress must quickly and fully fund the development of the Golden Dome to boost our capabilities.
- Others contend that with China and Russia investing heavily in missile capabilities, particularly on the hypersonic front, Trump is right to push for an advanced missile defense shieldâespecially since the tech to make it happen is now finally possible.
- âAmericaâs Golden Dome canât waitâ âLt. General Trey Obering (Ret.), Fox News
- âWe have the tools to build and deploy Trumpâs âGolden Domeâ right nowâ âTory Bruno, Washington Times
- ââThe Iron Dome for Americaââ âWSJ Editorial Board
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