- The Trump administration is reportedly turning to outdated associates because it appears to develop a “golden dome” missile-defense system proposed by President Donald Trump. Though plans might change, and Elon Musk has denied that SpaceX pitched itself for the job, the administration is reportedly contemplating Anduril, Palantir, and Elon Musk’s space-technology firm to construct key components of the system. Cofounders in any respect three firms have beforehand supported Trump, most notably Musk, who donated $288 million to Trump’s 2024 reelection marketing campaign and is a detailed advisor to the president.
President Donald Trump needs to construct a “golden dome” to guard the U.S. towards missile assaults, and his administration is reportedly looking for out some acquainted faces to assist construct it.
The so-called “golden dome” could be a missile-defense system just like Israel’s Iron Dome, and would intercept projectiles launched on the U.S. utilizing satellites. Based on President Trump, who gave extra particulars on the undertaking Tuesday, the bold effort is supposed to construct upon Ronald Reagan’s proposed, but by no means accomplished, SDI, or “Star Wars” system, imagined as a protection towards missile threats from the us.
The dome can be accomplished in three years, by the tip of Trump’s time period, and can price an estimated $175 billion, he claimed. But, a current examine by the Congressional Finances Workplace estimated the undertaking might price $161 billion on the low finish and $542 billion on the excessive finish over 20 years.
“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 stated in a press convention Tuesday.
In two posts on X from April, Elon Musk denied that SpaceX was concerned with Trump’s golden dome undertaking. In response to a publish selling the information reported by Reuters, Musk stated “This is not true.”
In an earlier publish, Musk had stated he most well-liked different firms take up the golden dome undertaking.
“SpaceX has not tried to bid for any contract in this regard. Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars. If the President asks us to help in this regard, we will do so, but I hope that other companies (not SpaceX) can do this,” he wrote.
Palantir, Anduril, and SpaceX didn’t instantly reply to Fortune’s request for remark.
Though plans for the missile-defense system are in early phases and will change, the White Home is reportedly contemplating a partnership between SpaceX, Anduril, and Palantir, three firms whose cofounders have beforehand supported Trump, as frontrunners to construct key components of the system, six sources acquainted with the matter advised Reuters.
The three firms met with Trump administration officers over the previous a number of weeks to current their proposal, which incorporates launching wherever from 400 to greater than 1,000 satellites into house to trace missiles. A further 200 assault satellites geared up with their very own missiles or lasers could be accountable for taking down enemy projectiles, Reuters reported. SpaceX wouldn’t be instantly concerned with the weaponization of the satellites, sources advised the outlet.
SpaceX has reportedly pitched the concept of the U.S. authorities paying a subscription service for the federal government to entry the expertise, relatively than personal it, for it to be developed quicker, Reuters reported. Pentagon officers have reportedly expressed concern concerning the concept of not proudly owning the missile protection system outright, which might be uncommon for such a big protection system.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, is a detailed advisor to President Trump and donated greater than 1 / 4 of a billion {dollars} to his reelection marketing campaign. Because the face of Trump’s Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), Musk has spent the final months slashing authorities spending, with round $170 billion in financial savings made to date, in keeping with the DOGE web site. (His unique purpose was to chop $2 trillion.)
On the identical time, Musk’s firm SpaceX has made billions of {dollars} in income from authorities contracts. The house firm was awarded greater than 300 contracts price $3.8 billion final 12 months, the New York Occasions reported.
Musk’s function within the authorities has reportedly had an affect over the golden dome pitching course of, in keeping with one of many sources acquainted with the talks.
“There’s an attitude that the national security and defense community has to be sensitive and deferential to Elon Musk because of his role in the government,” the supply advised Reuters.
Palantir, the big-data software program firm, was cofounded by Peter Thiel, who was a significant Trump supporter throughout his first run for president in 2016, donating greater than $1 million to pro-Trump teams and serving on the president’s transition workforce. Whereas Thiel stepped again from his political involvement and donations in 2020 and 2024, Trump selected his protégé JD Vance as his working mate. Palantir CEO Alex Karp describes his politics as populist-left however has beforehand supported each Republicans and Democrats in congressional elections, in keeping with OpenSecrets. He donated $360,000 to former President Joe Biden throughout his presidential marketing campaign in 2024. Karp later supported former vp Kamala Harris for president.
Palmer Luckey, the founding father of Oculus (which Fb bought for $2 billion in 2014), can also be cofounder of Anduril, the nation’s largest private-defense startup. Luckey has supported Trump since his first run for president in 2016. On the time, Luckey donated $10,000 to a pro-Trump political group, which he claimed led to him being fired by Fb in 2017 and being ostracized by his liberal colleagues in Silicon Valley.
In 2020 and 2024, Luckey hosted and co-hosted fundraisers to assist Trump’s marketing campaign for president, and personally donated $400,000 to his most up-to-date reelection marketing campaign, Fortune beforehand reported. The 32-year outdated Anduril cofounder has been a significant supporter of Trump’s protection technique, and his firm has greater than $1 billion in navy contracts, Fortune additionally reported beforehand.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
