President Trump shocked the defense establishment Monday by describing the current level of U.S. defense spending as “crazy,” and calling for a halt to what he characterized as an “uncontrollable arms race.” Official Washington is accustomed to dismissing such tweets as little more that mindless rants, but there is mounting evidence that President Trump’s attitude towards defense spending is evolving. Aside from the opportunity costs of spending $700 billion annually on the military, budget director Mick Mulvaney is warning the president about the risks associated with a rising national debt. Considering how little regard Mr. Trump has for many of America’s overseas partners, it would not be surprising to see him shift his views on the appropriate level of defense outlays. I have written a commentary for Forbes here.
Find Archived Articles: