Trump: "2027 Defense Budget Should Be Increased by 50% to $1.5 Trillion"

2026 Defense Budget Set at $901 Billion
Trump Claims Increased Spending Will Be Covered by Tariff Revenues and Other Sources

On January 7 (local time), President Donald Trump stated that the United States should increase its 2027 defense budget by 50% from the current level, raising it to $1.5 trillion.

President Trump posted on the social networking service Truth Social, "In these extremely chaotic and dangerous times, for the sake of America's interests, the defense budget for 2027 should not be $1 trillion, but $1.5 trillion."

He explained, "This would allow us to create the 'Dream Military' that we have long deserved, and, above all, it would protect America safely and securely, regardless of who our enemies may be."

This year, the United States' National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) defense budget amounts to $901 billion. The U.S. defense budget exceeds the combined defense budgets of nine major countries, including China and Russia. Trump emphasized that the defense budget could be funded through tariff revenues and other sources.

He also argued, "If it weren't for the massive tariff revenues we can collect from countries that have exploited the United States, the budget would have remained at the $1 trillion level," adding, "Thanks to tariffs and the enormous revenues they generate, we can reach a $1.5 trillion budget."

He further stated, "While reducing government debt, we will be able to build an unparalleled military force and pay substantial dividends to the patriotic citizens of America's middle class."

According to the Financial Times (FT), there are projections that it will be difficult to cover the increased defense budget solely with tariff revenues. As of September 30 last year, the United States' tariff revenues amounted to about $196 billion, which falls far short of the defense budget.