Why Trump’s “golden dome” missile defense idea is another ripped straight from the movies
1 min read
Summary
Donald Trump’s presidency has been full of Hollywood references, and his proposed national missile defense system is no exception.
At a 2024 campaign rally, Trump promised to build a missile defense shield, inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, that could repel missile attacks on the US.
He soon issued an executive order to develop a system since rebranded as the Golden Dome, and began presenting it as a physical, defendable dome that could stop missiles at every phase of their journey.
But will this plan be any more successful than previous attempts at national missile defense?
Experts point out that competent foes will see such a system as more of a provocation and a bargaining chip than a guarantee of US safety.
And it is likely to be as fictional as it is formidable, given its projected price tag of $175 billion and a timeline for full deployment by the end of Trump’s term.