In-town pool note 9 - oval remarks

The pool was ushered into the Oval at 4:02, where Trump announced plans for a Golden Dome defense system

Trump was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Space Force Vice Chief of Operations Michael Guetlein, who he said would lead the effort

Also present were Sen. Jim banks and Sen Kevin Cramer and sen Dan Sullivan

Trump said he had selected the “architecture” for the program

Trump said Canada had called and “wanted to be a part of it.”

He said he should be “fully operational by the end of my term”

Trump said the big beautiful bill would include $25 billion for the defense program

“This is something that is going to be very protective,” he said

Trump said he expected it to take “a little less than 3 years” and that the total cost would be $175 billion

After wrapping up a q and a, the pool was ushered out at 4:24

Alex Isenstadt

Senior Political Reporter

Axios

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