Self-proclaimed “Peace President” Donald Trump is pushing to spend more money on the military than any other president in modern history.
Trump’s summary of his budget for 2027 shows he’s demanding a total of $1.5 trillion for defense and other weapons expenditure, and as his war with Iran continues to plunge the Middle East into ever deeper chaos, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The newspaper adds that the document, released Friday, also indicates the White House is further planning to slash funding for “woke” programs that promote “radical gender and racial ideologies,” which apparently includes Department of Education schemes in support of minority-serving institutions.
The president’s proposed defense spending represents a staggering 42 increase on the present year, CBS News adds. Among some of the bigger-ticket items are apparently the president’s controversial $185 billion “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, along with new F-35 fighter jets and warships.
The White House intends to fund those purchases with a 10 percent reduction in non-defense spending, representing a reduction of $73 billion to current levels across education, housing, social services and healthcare, among others.
The president has made little secret of where his priorities lie amid his conflict in the Middle East, reportedly telling attendees at a private dinner earlier this week: “We’re fighting wars. We can’t take care of day care.”
Trump’s envisioned budget and its outlined cuts to services relied upon by millions of Americans ultimately represent a wish list rather than a foregone conclusion.
Congress retains control over spending and has often ignored whole sections of White House proposals in the past, with the president’s war against Iran deeply unpopular among the electorate ahead of this year’s crucial midterm elections.
The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment on this story.
