Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump announced this week that if he wins the Presidential election, he will build an “Iron Dome” in the United States and establish a Space Force National Guard.
Trump’s Announcement at National Guard Conference
Trump made the announcement Monday at a conference for the National Guard Association in Detroit.
Trump Reflects on Space Force Achievements
Trump said, “One of my proudest achievements in my first term was creating Space Force, the first new armed forces branch in 70 years.”
“Now that Space Force is up and running, I agree with your leadership– you want this very badly– but I agree that the time has come to create a Space National Guard as the primary combat reserve of the U.S. Space Force.”
Background on the Space Force
The Trump Administration established the Space Force in 2019 to protect the United States from space threats from Russia and China.
Trump Highlights Space Force’s Role in National Security
Trump spoke to the audience about the Space Force’s need for and success in protecting U.S. space assets from attack from enemy nations.
Trump Criticizes Pre-Space Force U.S. National Security
He argued that the U.S. national security was being “destroyed” in space before Space Force was established. According to Trump, the U.S. is “leading with all of the major metrics in space.”
The Need for a Space Force National Guard
The need for a National Guard branch for the Space Force has existed for years. In April, the Biden Administration proposed incorporating current Air National Guard members into the Space Force.
DoD’s Proposal to Override State Authority
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) requested in March that the federal government override a law requiring state governors to approve changes to National Guard units, thereby allowing hundreds of National Guard members to transfer into the Space Force.
Opposition to DoD’s Request
Governors for most states and many lawmakers were largely opposed to the DoD request, which would have impacted nearly 1,000 Air National Guard members.
Trump’s Plan for a U.S. Iron Dome
In addition to designating a new National Guard branch specifically for the Space Force, Trump also touted a new plan to build an “iron dome” similar to the famed defense infrastructure in Israel.
The Effectiveness of Israel’s Iron Dome
The efficacy of the original Iron Dome was fully on display earlier this year when Israel was able to deflect and disarm thousands of missiles heading for its major structures in a retaliatory attack from Iran.
Trump’s Vision for U.S. Air Defense
Trump vowed to build a similar antimissile system for air defense. The structure would be capable of intercepting short-range rockets in the air before they reach any structures in the United States airway.
Trump Invokes Reagan’s Vision
Trump hearkened back to Republican icon Ronald Reagan, saying, “You know, Reagan wanted this many years ago, but we didn’t have the technology. But now we have the technology.”
Criticism of Trump’s Iron Dome Plan
Critics say that a more reliable and cost-effective defense system would involve improving the current missile shield with further layers of defense. One of the greatest criticisms of government ineptitude is the redundant and overlapping yet unrelated efforts to solve any particular problem at great public expense.
