President Trump on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious plan to shield America from missile attack by building what he describes as a "Golden Dome."
"Once fully constructed the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump's budget and timeline for the project are ambitious. He told reporters he hoped to have it done "before the end of my term." The system would cost around $175 billion, the president said, with $25 billion to start construction in next year's budget.
A key part of the Trump plan is to place both missile-sensing and missile-destroying satellites into orbit above the Earth. The constellation would likely involve thousands of small satellites capable of attacking a missile in the moments after it launches from its submarine or silo.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) teared up during a Tuesday speech on the Senate floor while recounting being “physically” and...
