Trump Pledges to Build Israeli-Style Iron Dome System for the US

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has once again promised to implement a missile defense system in the United States similar to Israel's Iron Dome. This pledge was made during his lengthy speech at the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024.

In his speech, Trump highlighted Israel’s Iron Dome, referencing a recent incident where "three-hundred and forty-two missiles were shot into Israel, and only one got through a little bit." He was referring to the April missile attack on Israel, emphasizing the effectiveness of the system.

“Why should other countries have this and we don’t? No, we’re going to build an Iron Dome over our country and we’re going to be sure that nothing can come and harm our people,” Trump declared.

Here is what you need to know

The Iron Dome is designed to intercept short-range rockets and has been effective in defending Israel against such threats. However, it is not clear what specific threat Trump is aiming to address with this system, as the United States does not face the same short-range rocket threats along its borders that Israel does.

The proposal has sparked debate, as critics question the necessity and cost of installing such a system in the US, given the different security challenges faced compared to Israel.