Rage Erupts as Musk Proposes Building Trump's $175 Billion Golden Dome

Elon Musk’s company SpaceX might secure a valuable contract to assist Donald Trump in constructing a "golden dome" missile defense system aimed at safeguarding the country.

Specialists caution that this contentious initiative might incur costs exceeding $500 billion and could potentially trigger an outer-space arms race.

However, the strategy, which was influenced by Israel’s Iron Dome missile-defense system, has faced criticism following Musk’s emergence as a leading candidate to assist the president in achieving his ambitious goals.

According to CNN, the CEO of Tesla reached out to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to explore potential involvement in a project. Additionally, Bloomberg had previously stated that he might collaborate with software company Palantir and drone manufacturer Anduril for some capacity—however, Musk subsequently refuted these claims.

Even though nobody requested him to construct an anti-missile defense system, the president announced on Tuesday a proposal to allocate $25 billion for initiating this endeavor. He asserted confidently that it would be accomplished within just three years, which represents significantly lesser financial outlay and shorter duration compared to the $524 billion cost estimate and two-decade timeline provided by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Although Trump didn't mention Musk specifically, he stated that the initiative would be highly beneficial for U.S. businesses and would include "the smartest individuals" from Silicon Valley.

He additionally declared that Space Force General Michael Guetlein will take on the role of lead program manager for this "highly exciting initiative," which, as he acknowledges, was something nobody within the industry requested.

“I suggested it, and they all said: we love the idea, sir,” Trump said. “That’s the way it’s got to be, right?”

He mentioned that Space Force General Michael Guetlein will serve as the lead program manager for this "highly exciting initiative" which, he acknowledges, was not requested by anyone within the industry.

Forty-two Democrats, including senators Elizabeth Warren, Corey Booker, and Tammy Duckworth, have written to the Pentagon inspector general asking for an investigation into Musk’s possible role.

"Any official or unofficial involvement by Mr. Musk in the process of granting a government contract presents significant conflicts of interest, potentially implying that SpaceX might be leading contenders for the Golden Dome contract due to his governmental role," they noted.

Trump insists his so-called “Golden Dome for America” will cost about $ 175 million overall. It is designed to defend against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks.

TheGolden Dome has been likened to ex-Republican President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative – a research project intended to shield the U.S. against a major nuclear assault, which eventually faltered due to excessive expenses, technological limitations, and concerns over an militarized space race.

“Constructing a nationwide system would be extremely challenging, and we aren’t certain it will succeed,” cautioned former NASA astronaut and current Senator Mark Kelly during a recent security summit organized by Politico.

At the summit, Space Force’s chief of space operations, General Chance Saltzman, was also present. When questioned about whether the $542 billion estimation might be excessive, he responded, "After 34 years in this field, I've never encountered an initial projection that turned out to be too high. Personally, my instincts tell me more funds will likely be required."

Trump, however, remains undeterred.

"This design for the Golden Dome will incorporate the current defensive features and will be completely functional by the end of my term," Trump stated.

“Upon completion, the gilded dome will have the ability to intercept missiles regardless of whether they are fired from the opposite end of the globe or even from outer space.”

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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