
<p>Among the sweeping executive orders signed by President Trump in his first full week as president was one calling for the immediate construction of an Israeli-like “Iron Dome” missile defense system to protect the US from “hostile outside threats.”</p>



<p>Before the order, signed on Monday, January 27, newly minted Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had hinted that the order was coming down the pike as he headed into his first full day in office.</p>



<p>&#8220;The lawful orders of the president of the United States will be executed inside this Defense Department swiftly and without excuse. We will be no better friend to our allies and no stronger adversary to those who want to test us and try us so,&#8221; Hegseth told reporters.</p>



<p>“And today, there are more executive orders coming that we fully support on removing DEI inside the Pentagon, reinstating troops who were pushed out because of [Covid-19] mandates, and an Iron Dome for America,” he added. &#8220;This is happening quickly.&#8221;</p>



<p>That same evening, speaking at a Republican dinner in Florida, President Trump confirmed those aspirations.</p>



<p>&#8220;Pete Hegseth, who&#8217;s going to be great, by the way… I think he&#8217;s going to be fantastic,&#8221; Trump said in remarks to the attendees. &#8220;I know him very well. I think he&#8217;s going to be fantastic.&#8221;</p>



<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s what we need to immediately begin the construction of a state-of-the-art Iron Dome missile defense shield, which will be able to protect Americans.&#8221;</p>



<p>The order was one of a handful of measures designed to bolster America&#8217;s defenses. An Iron Dome for America has long been in the works as an official platform in the Republican Party, something they adopted as a policy goal over the summer.</p>



<p>Among 20 promises the GOP vowed to implement was the following: &#8220;Prevent World War Three, restore peace in Europe and in the Middle East, and build a great iron dome missile defense shield over our entire country — all made in America.</p>



<p>The Iron Dome for America executive order calls on the Secretary of Defense to submit a detailed plan outlining &#8220;reference architecture, capabilities-based requirements, and an implementation plan for the next-generation missile defense shield.&#8221;</p>



<p>Among those plans are a requirement to provide &#8220;Defense of the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-peer, and rogue adversaries.&#8221;</p>



<p>Trump referenced President Roald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars) and his interest in a similar system during the Cold War while making his remarks at the Republican dinner. He recalled how the country &#8220;didn&#8217;t have the technology&#8221; then.</p>



<p>&#8220;And now we have phenomenal technology. You see that with Israel,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;So I think the United States is entitled to that. And everything will be made right here in the USA 100 percent.&#8221;</p>



<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re going next to ensure that we have the most lethal fighting force in the world,&#8221; he concluded.</p>

Trump Demands Immediate Construction of “Iron Dome” to Protect America
