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Trump Proposes $1.5T Military Budget, 50% Increase

Trump Proposes $1.5T Military Budget, 50% Increase

Trump Proposes $1.5T Military Budget, 50% Increase
Above: **Watermarked Getty Image. Kindly Replace** A U.S. Army M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle during the Armed Forces Day parade in Warsaw, Poland, on Aug. 15, 2025. Image credit: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Spin

Proposing a $1.5 trillion military budget while America drowns in $38 trillion of debt is fiscal insanity that will bankrupt future generations. Tariff revenue falls billions short of covering this reckless spending increase, and new military adventures like Venezuela will only deepen the deficit crisis. This massive defense hike prioritizes geopolitical adventurism over fiscal responsibility at precisely the moment when the nation can least afford it.

The threat environment hasn't been this dangerous since World War II, making a $1.5 trillion defense budget absolutely essential for national survival. Like the Reagan Buildup that won the Cold War, this generational investment will modernize outdated equipment and deter adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Raising defense spending to 5% percent of GDP is necessary to maintain American technological leadership and prevent conflict through strength.

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 20% chance there will be a "World War Three" before 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


The Controversies



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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0