President Donald Trump emphasized the strength of the U.S. Military and called for increased defense funding and the passage of the SAVE America Act.
Trump took to Truth Social early Tuesday to laud the U.S. Military’s strength and morale. He highlighted the historic recruiting records set this year and the military’s display during the 250th American Independence celebration.
The President pushed for Congress to prioritize the passage of Reconciliation 3.0, which includes $350 billion for defense, and the SAVE America Act upon their return from recess as their “Number One Priority.”
“The SAVE AMERICA ACT, which everyone is asking for, paired with the full funding of our Great Department of War, can be passed very quickly, ensuring that the United States of America stays FREE for Generations to come,” Trump wrote.
Pentagon Spending Faces Pushback
Trump’s call for increased military funding comes in the wake of the White House’s request for an additional $87.6 billion in spending to fund the Iran war and other initiatives. This request, made by the White House Office of Management and Budget Director, Russell Vought, includes $21 billion for the Defense Department to bolster military capabilities.
In March, the Pentagon requested more than $200 billion from Congress to fund the Iran conflict, saying the money was needed to sustain ongoing and future military operations. Trump backed the proposal, saying that defense firms like Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) and Raytheon, a unit of RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX), are “building at a level they’ve never seen before.”
However, this surge in Pentagon spending has been criticized by some, such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who called the $1.5 trillion defense budget “fiscally irresponsible” and argued that it contributes to America’s internal deterioration.
Meanwhile, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) criticized Trump for seeking additional war funding after military action against Iran without congressional approval, arguing the Pentagon already has a record budget and billions in unspent funds, and that taxpayers should not be asked to finance more overseas conflicts.
Johnson Pushes SAVE Act Again
On Sunday, Speaker Mike Johnson, in an interview with Fox News’s Shannon Bream, said the House will make another attempt to pass the SAVE America Act through a budget reconciliation bill, arguing it offers the best path to Senate approval. He said the legislation’s core provisions, requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID to cast a ballot, remain a top priority for both the House and Trump.
Johnson argued that passing the election integrity measure in the Senate is difficult with only 53 Republicans, saying there is “zero chance” of securing the seven Democratic votes needed. He also accused some Democrats of tolerating election cheating because, he claimed, they cannot win on their policy positions.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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