Trump orders ‘immediate’ construction of Iron Dome over America to deflect missile attacks

At a Republican dinner in Florida, while discussing the recent confirmation of his Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Trump called the project a top priority, stating that he wanted "immediate" work to be done on the project. Trump said, "Pete Hegseth, who's going to be great, by the way… I think he's going to be fantastic. I know him very well. I think he's going to be fantastic. He'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."

Trump added that Americans "protect other countries, but we don't protect ourselves." The president then referenced President Ronald Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ system during the Cold War, but noted that the country "didn't have the technology."

He continued, "And now we have phenomenal technology. You see that with Israel. So I think the United States is entitled to that. And everything will be made right here in the USA 100 percent."

He then signed the order after landing at Joint Base Andrews Monday night.

On Monday, the State Department said in a statement obtained by Fox News that the Iron Dome is one of Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth's priorities, adding, "Other areas the secretary will study include reinstating troops that were pushed out because of COVID-19 vaccination mandates and developing an Iron Dome anti-missile system for the United States."

Trump previously mentioned the system at the Commander-In-Chief inaugural ball on Jan. 20, where he said, "We're also doing the Iron Dome all made in America. We're going to have a nice Iron Dome."

On June 14, while on the campaign trail, Trump said during an event in West Palm Beach, "By next term we will build a great Iron Dome over our country. We deserve a dome…it's a missile defense shield, and it'll all be made in America."