President Donald Trump has announced the approval of a $1 trillion defense budget.

He revealed the budget after a meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the American administration on Monday, which took place in front of reporters.

“We also essentially approved a budget that is at the facility — you’ll like to hear this — of a trillion dollars,” Trump, looking briefly toward Netanyahu, told the press. “One trillion dollars. And nobody’s seen anything like it.”

The budget would be the largest ever for the military, which the president said needed to be developed.

“We have to build our military. And we’re very cost-conscious, but the military is something we have to build and we have to be strong because you got a lot of bad forces out there now,” Trump said.

The U.S. ordered aircraft and missiles it has never had, Trump said, adding it’s “too bad” the country has to purchase the equipment.

“Hopefully, we’re not gonna have to use it. But, the military is very, very powerful, and it’s gonna remain that way,” he said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a clip of Trump’s remarks on social media platform X and thanked the president.

“COMING SOON: the first TRILLION dollar @DeptofDefense budget. President @realDonaldTrump is rebuilding our military — and FAST,” Hegseth wrote. “(PS: we intend to spend every taxpayer dollar wisely — on lethality and readiness).”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has long criticized the DOD budget. He said in December that Elon Musk, who now heads the Department of Government Efficiency, a White House unit that claims to find waste, fraud and abuse in the government, was “right.”

“Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change,” Sanders wrote on X.

It’s unclear exactly what Senate legislation he is referring to, but 13 senators voted against the National Defense Authorization Act that authorized appropriations for the DOD in 2023.

Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., who opposed the bill, said at the time the act failed to “reign in unbalanced” military spending.

“It’s time we get smart about reducing our military spending and ensuring Vermonters’ tax dollars are going to programs that complement America’s larger foreign policy goals,” Welch said in a statement at the time.

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.