President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for a dramatic increase in U.S. defense spending, urging Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion military budget for fiscal year 2027 in order to build what he described as a “Dream Military.”
If enacted, the proposed figure would dwarf the roughly $900 billion defense bill Congress approved in late December and would mark the largest defense appropriation in American history.
Trump’s remarks come on the heels of a U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of former dictator Nicolás Maduro, and as the president continues to press his renewed effort to acquire Greenland, potentially including the use of military force.
Trump laid out his case in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, saying he reached the conclusion after extensive discussions with lawmakers and administration officials.
“After long and difficult negotiations with Senators, Congressmen, Secretaries, and other Political Representatives, 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 wrote.
He argued that the increase would allow the United States to build a military force without rival while ensuring national security in an increasingly dangerous world.
“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,” the president added.
Trump also credited his administration’s aggressive tariff policies for making such a massive defense buildup financially possible. According to the president, revenue generated from tariffs on foreign countries has dramatically altered the federal government’s fiscal outlook.
“But, because of Tariffs, and the tremendous Income that they bring, amounts being generated, that would have been unthinkable in the past… we are able to easily hit the $1.5 Trillion Dollar number,” Trump wrote. He went on to claim that the increased revenue would allow the government not only to fund an “unparalleled Military Force,” but also to pay down the national debt and provide what he described as a substantial dividend to moderate-income Americans.
The president contrasted the current situation with what he called the fiscal conditions under the previous administration, arguing that such spending levels would have been impossible just a year earlier.
Despite Trump’s confidence, the future of his tariff strategy remains uncertain. The legality and long-term sustainability of the sweeping tariffs are still in question, with the Supreme Court scheduled to rule on their constitutionality on Friday. That decision could have significant implications for the revenue assumptions underlying Trump’s defense spending proposal.
Trump is expected to formally submit his fiscal year 2027 budget proposal to Congress later this spring, setting the stage for what is likely to be a contentious debate over defense spending and national priorities.
How the politics surrounding the proposed defense budget will unfold remains unclear. Some critics have argued that Republicans should shift their focus toward domestic concerns, including affordability issues, as the 2026 midterm elections approach. Still, Trump’s call for a historic military buildup underscores his continued emphasis on national defense and projecting American power on the global stage.
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