A Big Ask: Trump Wants to Spend More on Military

The US might soon see a huge boost in military spending. President Trump wants to increase the defence budget to $1.5 trillion by 2027, a significant jump from the current $901 billion.

Funding Through Tariffs

Trump believes this increase will help build a stronger military and says the extra money will come from tariffs—taxes on imports. He thinks they will bring in enough cash to cover the cost.

Increased Military Activity

Trump has been using the military more in his second term:

• US forces seized a Russian oil tanker.
• They tried to capture a Venezuelan leader.
• The White House has even talked about using the military to control Greenland.

These actions show Trump's focus on military power.

Concerns and Criticisms

Not everyone agrees with this plan. A big increase in spending could cause problems:

• The US already has a large budget deficit—the gap between what the government spends and what it earns.
• Many experts think the deficit is too high and worry about the long-term effects.

Tariffs: Will They Be Enough?

Trump says tariffs will pay for the military boost. But some experts disagree:

• The Congressional Budget Office says tariffs will only raise about $230 billion a year.
• That's less than half of what's needed for the military increase.

Defence Companies Under Pressure

Trump also wants defence companies to speed up production. He said they can't buy back shares or pay dividends until they improve. This news caused stock prices to drop:

• Companies like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin saw their shares fall.
• Investors were worried about the future.