Vice President JD Vance voiced strong support for Donald Trump’s defense agenda. He cited the Golden Dome missile system as central to America’s military future. Speaking at the US Air Force Academy’s commencement ceremony on May 28 in Colorado Springs, Vance gave a wide-ranging address to over 900 graduating officers. He used the platform to champion the Trump administration’s military priorities, including the ambitious and heavily scrutinized Golden Dome missile defense program.
JD Vance publicly talks about Donald Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’
Vance framed the Golden Dome as part of a broader commitment to keeping America’s military ahead of its adversaries. Linking it to military welfare and technological advancement, he said, “This is why we’ve pushed forward with Agenda 47 and the Golden Dome, and any number of new and advanced technologies. It’s why the president has made improving military quality of life such a central focus, why he’s insistent on increasing the defense budget to $1.5 trillion, and why he’s proud to support pay raises, new barracks, new hospitals, and new schools on base.”
The Golden Dome is Trump’s proposed futuristic missile defense shield designed to protect the US against ballistic and cruise missiles, and has come under financial scrutiny. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the system could cost around $1.2 trillion to develop, deploy, and operate over two decades — far exceeding the initial $175 billion figure. Analysts have also warned it may remain vulnerable to a full-scale attack by Russia or China.
JD Vance also pointed to recent military operations as proof of what America’s armed forces are capable of. He praised those who served during Operation Epic Fury, Absolute Resolve, Southern Spear, and Midnight Hammer, saying they accomplished things “the rest of the world quite literally thought were impossible.”
The vice president also expressed gratitude to the servicemen and women who support the Office of the Vice President daily, from those at Dover Air Force Base to the crew of Air Force Two, calling them proud airmen and guardians.
