US President Donald Trump salutes as he travelled to Newport News, Virginia, to visit the pre-commissioned USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. Photo: AFPNewport News: President Donald Trump announced from the deck of America’s newest aircraft carrier on Thursday that he had spoken with maritime leaders to discuss plans for a “major expansion” of the Navy. Trump spoke against the military backdrop as he pushes for a hike in defence spending that is likely to meet with stiff opposition in Congress. Trump in January signed an executive order to begin increasing the size of the US military, promising new aircraft, naval ships and more resources for the Pentagon. And this week he outlined a goal to hike American military spending by $54 billion, about 10% , swelling the defense budget to more than $600 billion.

Source: Mint March 03, 2017 04:07 UTC