American President Donald Trump has introduced a new idea to protect the United States from missile attacks. He calls it the “Golden Dome.”
What Is the “Golden Dome” Missile Defense Project?
This system would be similar to Israel’s Iron Dome, which stops rockets before they land. But instead of using ground-based weapons, Trump’s plan is to use satellites in space.
During a press conference, Trump explained that the Golden Dome would be able to shoot down missiles even if they were launched from the other side of the world—or even from space. He said the system would be finished in three years and cost around $175 billion. However, a study by the Congressional Budget Office says the price could range from $161 billion to $542 billion over 20 years.
To build this huge defense system, the Trump administration is reportedly reaching out to a few well-known companies. These include Palantir, Anduril, and SpaceX. All three companies have leaders who have supported Trump in the past.
Palantir is known for working with big data and has many contracts with the U.S. military. Anduril is a defense corporation that manufactures cutting-edge military technology. SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, is one of the world’s top space companies and already has many contracts with the U.S. government. All three companies are said to have met with government officials to discuss how they could help with the Golden Dome project.
In order to track approaching missiles, the plan reportedly calls for the launch of 400–1,000 satellites. Around 200 of these satellites would be “attack satellites” that could fire lasers or missiles to destroy any incoming threats. Sources said that SpaceX would not handle the actual weapons part, but it might help by launching the satellites or offering support from space.
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Elon Musk Publicly Denies SpaceX Involvement
Even though reports have named SpaceX as one of the top companies being considered for the project, Elon Musk says that’s not true.
In April, Musk posted two messages on X (formerly Twitter) making it clear that SpaceX was not involved in the Golden Dome project. In one post, he replied to a news article about SpaceX being part of the system by simply writing, “This is not true.”
In another post, Musk explained further. “SpaceX has not attempted to secure a contract for the Golden Dome project,” he claimed. He added that SpaceX would rather focus on its main goal, which is sending humans to Mars. However, he also said that if the President asked for help, the company might help—but it is not something SpaceX is pushing for.
Despite Musk’s denial, reports from news agencies such as Reuters still suggest that SpaceX is part of the early discussions. According to others, the corporation has even come up with a novel idea: the government might pay a membership fee to utilize the missile-defense system rather than the United States owning it. This would let the system be developed more quickly, according to SpaceX’s pitch. Pentagon officials, however, are reportedly concerned about not owning such an important defense system outright.
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Political Ties Between Trump and Tech Billionaires
One reason SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril are being considered could be because their founders or leaders have ties to Donald Trump.
Elon Musk, for example, donated $288 million to Trump’s 2024 reelection campaign. He also leads a new agency called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by Trump. This department focuses on cutting down government spending. According to the DOGE website, Musk has helped save $170 billion so far, with a goal of saving $2 trillion.
Even though Musk says SpaceX isn’t part of the Golden Dome, some sources claim his position in the government may have influenced how the project was discussed. One source told Reuters that many people in the defense world feel they need to be careful and respectful when dealing with Musk, due to his power and influence.
Palantir, another company in the mix for the Golden Dome project, was co-founded by Peter Thiel, a long-time supporter of Trump. Thiel gave over $1 million to pro-Trump groups in 2016 and was part of Trump’s transition team. The current CEO of Palantir, Alex Karp, donated to both Democrats and Republicans in past elections. In 2024, he gave $360,000 to Joe Biden’s campaign but later supported Kamala Harris.
Palmer Luckey, the inventor of the Oculus virtual reality headset, established Anduril. Since 2016, Luckey has backed Trump, and he contributed $400,000 to his most recent campaign. He is renowned for supporting robust national military initiatives and hosted fundraisers for Trump. The U.S. military currently has contracts for over $1 billion with his company, Anduril, which is also being considered for key roles in the Golden Dome defense system.
Although these companies have presented their ideas for the Golden Dome, none of them, including SpaceX, have officially confirmed that they’ve received a contract. When asked about their involvement, none of the three corporations responded to demands for comment.
For now, while Trump’s Golden Dome project is still in its early planning stages, Elon Musk is standing firm in saying that SpaceX is not leading the way.
