Washington, D.C -In a return to the Oval Office marked by bold declarations and sweeping promises, Donald Trump has unveiled a massive new missile defence project he calls the “Golden Dome” a sweeping plan to shield the United States from future aerial and space-based threats.
The idea, reminiscent in name of Israel’s Iron Dome system but grander in ambition, would include space-based sensors, orbital interceptors, and terrestrial systems designed to shoot down anything from hypersonic missiles to rockets launched from space.
“This system will protect the United States from every direction land, sea, air and even space,” Trump said on Tuesday during a briefing at the White House. “It will be capable of intercepting missiles from anywhere, even those launched from the other side of the world.”
He pledged that the programme would be operational before the end of his second term. But experts aren’t so sure.
A High-Tech Dream, or an Expensive Gamble?
The Golden Dome, according to the administration, will draw on “next-generation” technologies to close what the Pentagon sees as dangerous gaps in the country’s current defences. These gaps, defence officials say, have grown as rivals like China and Russia develop increasingly sophisticated weapons, including maneuverable hypersonic missiles and space-launched warheads.
A recent assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency warned that missile threats to the US are expected to grow “in scale and sophistication”, with adversaries “actively designing systems to exploit gaps” in current defences.
But while Trump says the Golden Dome will offer a “complete” solution, some analysts see the plan as overly ambitious and potentially unaffordable.
Marion Messmer, a senior fellow at Chatham House, told media that “the scale of this proposed system is far beyond anything attempted before.” She pointed out that Israel’s Iron Dome works well, but “defending a country the size of the United States is an entirely different matter geographically and technologically.”
The system, according to experts, would likely involve thousands of satellites detecting launches in real-time, combined with interceptors either on the ground or in space. But that vision would require years if not decades of development.
“This isn’t something you can build in one presidential term,” said Shashank Joshi, defence editor. “The military will take it seriously, but the cost alone could eat up a massive portion of the defence budget.”
Cost Estimates Vary Wildly
Trump said the project would start with $25 billion from the current defence budget. But his own administration projects that full costs could reach $175 billion over time.
That’s a conservative estimate.
The Congressional Budget Office has warned the final bill could soar even higher up to $542 billion over 20 years just for the space-based elements. That’s a figure that could shift the balance of US military spending for decades.
The high price tag raises questions on Capitol Hill, where bipartisan concerns about defence spending have grown in recent years. Critics argue the money might be better spent upgrading existing systems or addressing urgent needs like cybersecurity and modernizing ageing nuclear infrastructure.
Still, Trump insisted that the price is justified. “You can’t put a price on protecting American lives,” he said.
Allies Show Interest — Cautiously
The plan has drawn attention from America’s allies as well.
Trump revealed that Canada had expressed interest in joining the initiative. Canadian officials have confirmed those discussions, saying participation would be in the country’s “national interest.”
Former Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair, during a visit to Washington earlier this year, said the concept “makes sense,” particularly given the shared defence responsibilities of the NORAD alliance.
But Canada has not yet committed to financial support or logistical cooperation.
Who’s in Charge?
The Pentagon says the Golden Dome project will be run under a centralized command. US Space Force General Michael Guetlein has been named as the lead, reflecting the heavy reliance on orbital technologies.
This central command structure is meant to avoid the sort of bureaucratic sprawl that has plagued earlier defence projects, but critics worry it may not be enough to manage a system of this scale and complexity.
Political and Strategic Risks
Some observers believe Trump’s announcement is more political theatre than realistic policy. His critics argue that the timing early in his term and ahead of key budget negotiations is part of an effort to project strength and dominate defence headlines.
Others see the plan as a risky gamble, potentially inflaming tensions with adversaries who might view space-based interceptors as a provocative step.
So far, neither China nor Russia has responded publicly. But both have previously warned against the militarization of space.
A Promise Under Pressure
For now, the Golden Dome remains a promise grand in scale, high in cost, and full of unanswered questions. Whether it becomes a cornerstone of Trump’s second-term legacy or joins a long list of unrealized defence ambitions remains to be seen.
“We’re going to build the most advanced defence system the world has ever seen,” Trump declared on Tuesday. “And we’re going to do it fast.”
Experts aren’t betting on the timeline or the price tag.
