Donald Trump speaks at the National Guard Association in Detroit on Aug. 26, 2024. (Paul Sancya/AP)
Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if he is reelected to the White House, he will create a Space National Guard to support the newest military branch that he established under his previous term in office.
“You want this very badly, but I agree that the time has come to create a Space National Guard as the primary combat Reserve of the U.S. Space Force,” the Republican presidential candidate said speaking at the annual meeting of the National Guard Association of the United States.
Held this year in Detroit, the annual meeting has hosted at least one major party candidate since 1992. Trump last addressed the group in 2016. Roughly 4,000 people were in attendance, according to the association.
Organizers said they also invited Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president.
During Trump’s first presidential term, he announced the creation of the Space Force as a service branch. It was established under the Department of the Air Force on Dec. 20, 2019.
Since then, there has been debate about how creating a part-time Reserve option for the Space Force could help bring talented people into the military who might otherwise seek higher paying civilian jobs.
A group of bipartisan senators has filed legislation to create a Space National Guard that has failed to gain traction amid congressional resistance and opposition from the White House.
Harris has not spoken publicly on the subject.
A report released in April that reviewed the option of creating a Space National Guard raised concerns that recruiting and retaining members for a Space Guard would be challenging because it would only have about 700 personnel at most. The report also described it could be an expensive option, though relatively easy to implement quickly.
Instead, the Department of the Air Force is moving forward with plans to allow for part-time service in the regular Space Force. While this infrastructure is established, it is seeking approval to allow the Space Force to absorb space-related units in the Air National Guard.
The National Guard Association has been strongly opposed to this plan, so Trump’s proposal was met with strong applause Monday afternoon.
“Space Force has been very important, very, very important,” he said.
