Donald Trump will call for eliminating the sequester on defense spending and bolstering the US’ defenses by proposing a “major investment” in USA military spending in a speech Wednesday morning, his campaign announced Tuesday.
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The New York businessman, who has struggled at times to demonstrate a command of foreign policy, also seemed to acknowledge he does not now have a plan to address cyber security or the Islamic State group.
Trump’s answers came as reporters repeatedly pressed the Republican nominee over his position on providing a pathway to legal status to some undocumented immigrants living in the US. And he would ask the joint chiefs of staff to conduct “a thorough review” of the nation’s cyber defenses to determine all vulnerabilities, according to a fact sheet distributed by his campaign.
When Matt Lauer asked Trump about the comment at Wednesday’s Commander-in-Chief Forum, Trump said it’s “a correct tweet”, citing his favorite, elusive source.
Trump allowed a small pool of reporters and photographers to join him aboard his private plane Monday between campaign stops in OH – a first, which came on the same day Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton took her inaugural flight on a plane with her entire traveling press corps.
The appearances mark an intense, two-day focus on national security by Trump, who has offered tough rhetoric – but few details – on America’s challenges overseas.
The United States now spends more than $600 billion a year on the military, more than the next seven countries combined.
GOP lawmakers returning to Washington this week expressed optimism that Trump can stay on message if he keeps listening to people recently elevated in his orbit, such as campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and running mate Mike PenceMike (Michael) Richard PenceHouse GOP hoping a “disciplined” Trump can win The Trail 2016: “Man your battle stations Pence: “I accept” Obama was born in US MORE, who are more experienced political hands”. Among all voters, 59 percent said they would not be confident in Trump’s ability as commander in chief. “They view him as a danger and a risk”.
“I think my single greatest asset, of any assets I have, is my temperament”, Trump declared in North Carolina on Tuesday.
In a prepared speech at a conservative club in Philadelphia, Mr Trump unveiled plans to grow the army by 50,000 to 540,000 soldiers, increase the size of the US Marine Corps, establish a new missile defence system, and build new ships and warplanes.
Trump’s Union League address also includes his plans to eliminate deep spending cuts, known as the “sequester”, enacted when Congress failed to reach a budget compromise in 2011.
In his campaign video posted on YouTube in January, Trump was vowing to “make our Military so big, powerful and strong that nobody – absolutely nobody – will mess with us”.
While Trump has often complained that US forces are not large enough or well-equipped, he’s also said that he’d save money by cutting waste and ensuring that contractors aren’t getting sweetheart deals due to their connections or lobbying efforts.
Trump’s proposal to lift the sequester limits on military spending won praise from Republicans on Capitol Hill even as some acknowledged the reality that Democratic opposition might render it hard to achieve.
As for how he would pay for it, Trump insisted on Wednesday that he would fully offset the costs of his new spending through savings and new revenue.
According to Reuters, Trump wants to allocate funds for upgrading the U.S. military with new ships, planes and submarines; to bolster missile defense systems and to improve combat troops training.
But questions remain, even in his party.
Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program, an uncomfortable Corker dodged the question on Trump’s competence altogether.
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Later in the interview, Flake said “I think Republicans do need to distance themselves from Donald Trump”, and blamed Trump’s rhetoric for putting the reliably Republican state of Arizona into presidential play.
