President Donald Trump has called on the US Congress to make a $350bn defence funding package and the Save America Act its top priority upon returning from recess, a demand issued on the eve of a NATO summit in Ankara. In a Truth Social post, Trump asserted that the United States military has “never been stronger” and that the Department of Defense has never been “hotter” under Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing record recruitment figures and high morale. The message was reposted by Hegseth on X, amplifying the administration’s push for the legislation known as Reconciliation 3.0.

Within Congress, the path for the bill faces fiscal and political hurdles. Members of the House Budget Committee have stated they will not support the package unless it is fully paid for on an annual basis. House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington has argued that existing fraud-tackling initiatives could cover the cost, but the House Freedom Caucus is demanding additional provisions, including an extension of a prohibition on political funding of abortion providers and the elimination of clean energy tax credits. The White House frames the funding as essential to maintaining military readiness and deterrence, with a proposed overall military budget of $1.5 trillion for fiscal year 2027, according to officials in Washington.

The Ankara summit is expected to intensify US pressure on European allies and Canada to increase their own defence contributions. Washington has long argued that the financial burden of collective security falls disproportionately on American taxpayers, and Trump administration officials have signalled that NATO members should move towards spending five per cent of GDP on defence. Viewed from European capitals, the demand comes at a time when many governments are already grappling with domestic fiscal constraints, and the summit is likely to see renewed negotiations over burden-sharing commitments.

Trump’s social media activity also included posts acknowledging voter concerns about the cost of living, sharing positive press coverage, and admitting that he lobbied FIFA to overturn a red card for a US player during the World Cup. The military boasts follow US operations against Iran that, according to reports, left weapons stockpiles heavily depleted, prompting the president to meet with domestic munitions manufacturers to accelerate production. The House and Senate are expected to take up the Reconciliation 3.0 package when they return, though the timeline remains subject to budget committee deliberations and the broader legislative calendar.