Military

Report: Global Military Spending Hit Record $2.9 Trillion in 2025

Is record military spending an essential shield for freedom or an egregious wealth transfer to arms dealers and shareholders?

Published APR 28

Report: Global Military Spending Hit Record $2.9 Trillion in 2025

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Above: U.S. military personnel participate in the St. Patrick's Day Parade along 5th Ave. on March 17. Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Global threats from Russia and China are real and growing, making robust defense spending a strategic necessity, not a giveaway. A steady increase to $1 trillion by 2029 keeps America within historical norms while ensuring enough ships, aircraft and ammunition to deter aggression and protect allies like Ukraine and Taiwan. Cutting defense budgets now would leave freedom dangerously exposed at the worst possible moment.

Progressive Policy Institute LiveNOW from FOX

Establishment-critical narrative

Record military spending — now at $2.9 trillion globally — is a windfall for arms dealers and wealthy shareholders, not working people. BAE Systems and its peers handed out a record $5 billion in shareholder payouts in 2025, with profits flowing to the wealthiest American households who own 93% of all stocks. Resisting rearmament is the clearest path to redirecting that wealth toward the working class.

Jason Smith on X Canary