U.S. President Donald Trump has announced fresh details of an ambitious $175 billion defense initiative to build a space-based missile shield, dubbed the “Golden Dome,” with a promise to complete the system within three years—before the end of his potential next term.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump described the Golden Dome as a cutting-edge defense architecture capable of intercepting missiles launched from anywhere in the world. “Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will shield the U.S. from any form of attack,” he said, calling it “the future of national defense.”

The concept borrows its name from Israel’s Iron Dome system, which intercepts short-range rockets. But the scale of Trump’s proposed project far exceeds its Middle Eastern counterpart, aiming to defend a country 450 times larger, and against far more sophisticated threats—including ballistic and hypersonic missiles.

What the Golden Dome will actually look like remains vague. Trump says the project will be spearheaded by Gen. Michael A. Guetlein of the U.S. Space Force, and partially funded by a proposed $25 billion cut from government spending as part of a new fiscal reform bill he is urging Republicans to pass.

High-profile defense contractors and tech companies, including SpaceX, are reportedly already making bids for the job, lobbying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for a lead role. Trump also claimed that Canada has expressed interest in joining the initiative, with the Canadian Prime Minister’s office confirming that cross-border security talks—including Golden Dome participation—are ongoing.

Despite Trump’s confident timeline and budget, military experts and former defense officials remain deeply skeptical.

Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery told CNN that even a basic missile shield of this nature would likely take 7 to 10 years to build—if it proves technologically viable. And even then, he warned, the system might only protect key federal infrastructure and major cities.

Other analysts say the true cost could far exceed $175 billion, with some calling any financial estimate “impossible to predict” due to the evolving nature of threats and defense technology. Critics also point to decades of failed U.S. missile shield efforts, hampered by both technical limitations and spiraling costs.

The renewed push comes amid rising concerns over missile capabilities in China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. A recent unclassified assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency warned that these nations continue to advance long-range strike technologies that could threaten the American mainland.

The Pentagon, earlier this month, submitted multiple development options for the Golden Dome—ranging from scaled-down regional protection to a full nationwide shield. Trump confirmed a final design architecture has been chosen but stopped short of revealing specific details.

If successful, the Golden Dome would mark a historic shift in global military defense strategy—potentially altering the security dynamics not only for the U.S., but also for its allies, rivals, and neutral nations. However, with critics raising questions about its feasibility, cost, and transparency, the project’s future remains as much political as it is technological.


By WafricNews Desk.