Trump’s $175 Billion ‘Golden Dome’ Defense Plan Stuns World as South Africans Brace for Crucial Meeting with Ramaphosa Author: Noko Maleka Publisher: Insight Jozi News Date: May 21, 2025




By Noko Maleka | Jozi News | May 21, 2025

 U.S. President Donald Trump has dropped a geopolitical bombshell. In a high-profile announcement from the White House, Trump revealed the Golden Dome—a $175 billion missile defense megaproject designed to shield the U.S. from nuclear and hypersonic threats.

Speaking from the Oval Office alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Space Force Vice Chief of Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein, President Trump described the initiative as a "game changer" for national defense. The system is envisioned as a multilayered shield, integrating land, sea, and space-based technologies to intercept missiles, even those launched from space. (Fox News, AP News)


General Guetlein, appointed to lead the project, likened the endeavor to the Manhattan Project in terms of its scale and complexity. The Golden Dome aims to be operational by 2029, with an initial $25 billion allocated from a proposed tax and budget bill currently under discussion in Congress. (WSJ, Financial Times)

The announcement has garnered both support and scrutiny. While some lawmakers back the initiative as a necessary advancement in national security, others express concerns over the projected costs, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates could escalate to $542 billion over two decades. (Financial Times)

Notably, Canada has expressed interest in participating in the Golden Dome project, signaling potential collaboration beyond U.S. borders.

Back in South Africa, the timing of this announcement coincides with heightened anticipation for President Ramaphosa's forthcoming address, where citizens hope to gain clarity on pressing national issues. The juxtaposition of these events underscores the global interconnectedness of political developments and their potential ripple effects.




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