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Trump commits to open new Office of Shipbuilding, build Golden Dome defence system

President Donald J. Trump delivers the first address of his second term to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, March 4, 2025. Photo: White House

US president Donald Trump has pledged to open a new department of shipbuilding and introduce tax incentives to boast the US military and defence industry commercial sector.

US president Donald Trump has pledged to open a new department of shipbuilding and introduce tax incentives to boast the US military and defence industry commercial sector.

The US president made the comments during his first address to a joint session of Congress on March 4 this year.

During the speech, Trump promised to expand the American shipbuilding capacity, pursue a Golden Dome defence system similar to Israel's Iron Dome and take action to improve domestic production of rare earth elements critical to US defence architecture.

"Our service members won't be activists and ideologues... They will be fighters and warriors. They will fight for our country," he said.

"I am pleased to report that in January, the US Army had its single best recruiting month in 15 years and that all armed services are having among the best recruiting results ever in the history of our services... What a tremendous turnaround. It's really a beautiful thing to see people love our country again ... they love our country, and they love being in our military again.

"My focus is on building the most powerful military of the future... As a first step, I'm asking Congress to fund a state-of-the-art, Golden Dome missile defense shield to protect our homeland — all made in the USA.

"Israel has it, other places have it, and the United States should have it, too... This is a very dangerous world. We should have it. We want to be protected. And we're going to protect our citizens like never before.

"We are also going to resurrect the American shipbuilding industry, including commercial shipbuilding and military shipbuilding. I am announcing tonight that we will create a new Office of Shipbuilding in the White House and offer special tax incentives to bring this industry home to America, where it belongs.

"We used to make so many ships. We don't make them anymore, very much... But we're going to make them very fast, very soon.

"Later this week, I will also take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA."

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