How Trump’s Golden Dome missile plan compares to Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ system

From 1985: The status of Reagan's 'Star Wars' program

The nation's top scientists gathered in 1985 to consider President Reagan's SDI proposal: How a space-based defense system could protect the U.S. from a Soviet missile attack. Originally reported by Larry Attebery on May 27, 1985.

President Trump’s new missile defense vision, dubbed "Golden Dome," is already drawing comparisons to a Cold War-era project that captured imaginations—and sparked intense debate—more than 40 years ago.

Just as Ronald Reagan once pitched a futuristic missile shield to make nuclear weapons obsolete, Trump is proposing an ambitious, multilayered system that would, for the first time, put U.S. weapons in space. But critics are already pointing out familiar red flags: ballooning costs, unproven tech, and the risk of triggering another arms race.

Trump’s Golden Dome vs. Reagan’s SDI

The backstory:

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan unveiled the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)—a bold proposal to protect the U.S. from nuclear attack using space-based lasers and interceptors. The technology didn’t yet exist, but the vision was clear: a defensive shield that could detect and destroy incoming missiles at every stage of flight.

Critics dubbed it "Star Wars," arguing it was closer to science fiction than feasible defense. Still, it shaped the strategic debate of the 1980s and influenced U.S.-Soviet arms talks.

Now, Trump’s Golden Dome echoes that same ambition—only this time, with more developed satellite tech, a $175 billion proposed price tag, and a clear desire to outmatch missile advancements from Russia and China.

By the numbers:

• Reagan’s SDI cost estimates in the 1980s ranged from $60 to $100 billion.
• Trump’s Golden Dome has an initial estimate of $175 billion.
• The Congressional Budget Office says just the space-based portion could reach $542 billion over 20 years.
• Trump is requesting an initial $25 billion via a proposed tax break bill.

From 1985: Study raises doubts about SDI

A congressional study finds that President Reagan's proposed Strategic Defense Initiative, or 'Star Wars,' missile defense program may not be feasible without some concessions from the Soviet Union. Originally reported by Patrick McGrath on Sept. 25, 1985.

What they're saying:

General Chance Saltzman, head of the U.S. Space Force, told lawmakers that Golden Dome would demand "missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organizations."

Meanwhile, critics point out that while Trump envisions the system being fully operational by 2029, even Pentagon officials say it’s still in the conceptual stage.

President Donald Trump (left) sits beside a rendering of the proposed Golden Dome missile defense system during an Oval Office briefing, while President Ronald Reagan (right) holds a sign promoting his Strategic Defense Initiative—nicknamed "Star War (Getty Images.)

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Reagan, too, faced resistance from scientists, defense officials, and international leaders who questioned the plausibility of such an all-encompassing system. His insistence on keeping SDI alive reportedly stalled key arms negotiations with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Why you should care:

Both SDI and Golden Dome mark pivotal moments where U.S. presidents proposed grand military tech visions that stretched beyond current capabilities.

Golden Dome, like Star Wars before it, could redefine how the U.S. views nuclear deterrence, military space strategy, and global arms control—if it ever gets off the ground.

Trump announces 'Golden Dome' missile defense plan

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans for the Golden Dome missile defense system. President Trump says the project will cost a total of $175 billion - $25 billion initial investment and another $150 billion to be budgeted over the course of two years.

What's next:

While Trump has selected the concept, the Pentagon is still drafting the requirements for Golden Dome. An "initial capabilities document" is being developed by U.S. Northern Command to outline what the system must accomplish.

General Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations, has been tasked with overseeing the program’s progress.

Despite its ambition, Golden Dome currently has no secured funding and remains in early development. Just like SDI in the 1980s, the real test will be whether its futuristic promises can survive political scrutiny—and technological reality.