Trump rolls out Golden Dome missile defense project and appoints leader

Gen Michael Guetlein of Space Force will be in charge of defense system that could cost $540bn over 20 years

Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his administration will move forward with developing the so-called Golden Dome" missile defense system that he envisions will protect the United States from possible foreign strikes using ground and space-based weapons.

Flanked by the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, in the Oval Office, Trump also said that he wanted the project to be operational before he left office. He added that Republicans had agreed to allocate $25bn in initial funding and Canada had expressed an interest in taking part.