Donald Trump intended to plan to make America great while being a Candidate. At the Philadelphia Shipyards, on September 7, 2016, he said to an audience “we will build a Navy of 350 surface ships and submarines as recommended by the bipartisan National defense panel.” This promise denoted that Trump, now president, looked to expand the Navy greatly. A report by Politifact provided a number of details used in this article.

On March 2, Trump added an extension to that pledge by promising to increase the number of aircraft carriers to 12. The US Navy now has about 275 vessels, as far the latest figures of the Navy fleet says.

Hence, the expected number of the surface ships will create great scopes for both national security and international stability.

The budget betrays Trump’s Promise

According to the White House budget unveiled on March 13, 2017, America First: A budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again, the president’s 2018 Budget calls for a $54 billion total increase for national defense discretionary budget authority, restores $52 billion to Department of Defense (DOD), and $2 billion to other national defense programs outside DOD. DOD had its budget authority increased by $52 billion above that ongoing 2017 level of $587 billion. The budget also said it would be one of the largest one-year DOD increases in American history.

But the history-breaking budget is not even capable of fulfilling Trump’s promise. It is nearly impossible to walk on his pledge. Revealing the House committee’s overall conclusion, Todd Harrison, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington, said that “$54 billion would do little.” He said, “Most of it will be needed to cover cost growth in the current force and pay for the backlog of training and maintenance that has built up over the past few years.” Navy shipbuilding could also be a great jobs program.

The US Navy could meet several threats during a critical period. But the budget interrupted all these benefits.

Can Trump win a second term?

With this budget, there is hardly any way to get the 350 ships The President promised by 2024. Even if it is authorized along with being fully-funded, the hoped fleet will be in hand apparently by 2027.

That's long after the president leaves his chair, even if he wins for twice. No remarkable step has been taken yet to make 350 ships. But Trump goes on with his effort, seeking an extra $25 billion.

For now, this has been one of the hardest challenges for Donald Trump. We will see whether he can conquer the challenge. The hardest challenge gives the highest excitement after being conquered.