Trump: putting American defence first

Homeland March 2, 2017

American President, Donald Trump, made his first speech to Congress on Tuesday, where he presented his blueprint for America under his presidency.

The controversial president has called for ‘an historic’ increase in military spend, but may face harsh opposition with his opponents citing America’s stance as the strongest military power and winding down from two major conflicts.

“This budget will be a public safety and national security budget,” Trump said at the White House. “It will include an historic increase in defence spending to rebuild the depleted military of the United States of America at a time we most need it.”

In a markedly calm speech to congress, lacking the invective and rhetoric usually employed by the billionaire, Trump called for an increase in spending for the military, with some $54Bn earmarked towards defence departments. The money is to be culled from EPA and Foreign Aid budgets.

On his plans, the President said: “We’re also putting in a massive budget request for our beloved military. And we will be substantially upgrading all of our military, all of our military, offensive, defensive, everything. Bigger and better and stronger than ever before.”

He continued: “We will be having the greatest military we have ever had when I’m finished,”

President Trump made rebuilding the armed forces a central part of his campaign, calling for 90,000 more soldiers, more air force jets and an increase to 350-ship Navy, while his criticism of the F-35II Lightning programme and NATO allies spend has been well documented.

“We’re going to be doing things having to do with other countries even militarily, because we’re treated very unfairly. When we help them even militarily, we’re going to ask for a form of reimbursement,” he added. “We have countries where we’re taking care of their militaries and we’re not being reimbursed.”

The President has also pointed to the need for a more robust presence in key international waterways and choke-points such as the Strait of Hormuz and South China Sea.