Extract from ABC News
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Mr Trump outlined plans for strengthening the military, though he offered few specifics. (AP: Evan Vucci)
US President Donald Trump has said he will make a
massive budget request for one of the "greatest military build-ups in
American history", in a feisty campaign-style speech to an audience of
eager conservative activists.
Key points:
- Mr Trump says the build-up will make sure "nobody is going to mess with [the US]"
- Earlier this week, he said he wanted to revamp the country's nuclear arsenal
- He also denied reports he labelled the media an "enemy of the people"
Ahead of a nationally televised speech to the US Congress on Tuesday, Mr Trump outlined plans for strengthening the military, already the world's most powerful fighting force, though he again offered few specifics.
He said he would aim to substantially upgrade the military in both offensive and defensive capabilities, with a massive spending request that would make the country's defence "bigger and better and stronger than ever before."
"And, hopefully, we'll never have to use it, but nobody is going to mess with us. Nobody," Mr Trump said."It will be one of the greatest military build-ups in American history."
Mr Trump earlier this week said he wanted the country's nuclear arsenal to be at the "top of the pack", and said he was concerned its atomic weapons capacity had fallen behind.
With appeals to people on welfare to go to work and pledges to follow through on his vow to build a wall on the US-Mexican border, Mr Trump drew rounds of applause from the large audience, many of them wearing hats with the president's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again."
His speech was heavy on the nationalist overtones from his campaign last year, focusing heavily on promises to boost US economic growth by retooling international trade deals, rolling back regulations and boosting energy production.
'Fake news' still in Trump's crosshairs
With the federal budget still running a deficit, Mr Trump will have to square his request for a military build-up with his plans to cut taxes for most Americans and for corporations.During his speech, he complained about spending caps that were put in place on the defence budget dating back to 2011.
"I'm against the people that make up stories and make up sources. They shouldn't be allowed to use sources unless they use somebody's name," he said."Let their name be out there ... Let there be no more sources."
Mr Trump is looking to put behind him a rocky first month in office.
An executive order he signed aimed at banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries became embroiled in the courts and he had to fire his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, for Russian contacts before Mr Trump took office.
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