Trump OutTrumps US Military Industrial Complex ?

From the very beginning Donald Trump has been against big ticket military spending. One of the first things he did as president-elect was to say that he will relook the insanely overbudget and too expensive US400 BILLION F35 stealth fighter program. Almost  immediately Lockheed slashed the cost by US700 Million.

Trump also said that NATO should pay more for US troops and equipment stationed in Europe to protect European borders.

Yesterday in Europe, NATO and the EU were quite shocked when Trump repeated this same message. Here is the New York Times :

In NATO Speech, Trump Is Vague About Mutual Defense Pledge

President Trump on Thurs punctured any illusions he was fence-mending in Europe

declining to explicitly endorse NATO’s mutual defense pledge 

lashing out at NATO for “chronic underpayments” to alliance

tense day when Trump brought “America first” to very heart of Europe

European leaders visibly unsettled

some openly lamenting divisions with US on trade, climate, Russia.

discord palpable in body language

Trump greeted Macron grabbed hands, jaws clenched

Trump push aside Montenegro PM to get to his assigned place in front

split starkest at NATO hq 

Trump lectured allies on financial contributions

Trump repeated complaint US was shouldering unfair burden
 

"23 of 28 member nations not paying what they should be paying” Trump declared

“not fair to the people and taxpayers of the US” he added. 

“And many of these nations owe massive amounts of money from past years”

Trump said NATO members must "finally contribute" fair share to defense 

“not fair to the people and taxpayers of US .."

Earlier Trump, a critic of EU during campaign, received chilly reception in Brussels

In talks Trump differed over intentions and policies of Putin of Russia

My comments :  Trump appears to be against war. Or at least he does not want the US to fight more wars. 

This makes Trump an Enemy of the Military Industrial Complex. The Military Industrial Complex is too powerful. They need to sell their weapons. This means they need war.

To make war profits, they need profitable enemies. Russia can be a profitable enemy. But Trump does not wish to make enemies of Russia and Vladimir Putin. 

This makes the Military Industrial Complex very unhappy with Trump. They may even "take him out".  Just like what happened to John F Kennedy 54 years ago. 

And now Trump does not want to pay more than his fair share of NATO's Budget.  Meaning less weapons purchases from the Military Industrial Complex.

But Trump is a 'deal maker'. The Art Of The Deal.How to make the Military Industrial Complex happy AND cut military spending at the same time.

Trump's insistence that NATO members pay up their share of NATO's defense budget means that there will still be weapons purchases from the Military Industrial Complex. A lot of NATO countries use American made weapons.

The US will pay less, NATO will pay more but the weapons will still get bought.

Then Trump has cut a deal with Saudi Arabia. Trump's Special Advisor and son-in-law Jared Kuschner (who is a Jew, without intending any offense) put together that US$110 BILLION defense deal with Saudi Arabia. 

Trump has told the Saudis and the Islamic countries that the US will not be coming to their aid or their defense anymore. "You can settle your own problems" he told them point blank.

BUT (this is a big BUT) the US will sell the Saudis all the weapons they need.

This keeps the Military Industrial Complex happy. They still get to sell their weapons. US$110 BILLION worth.

My guess is the US will soon loosen up on weapons exports to other countries. Whoever would like to buy an M1 Abrams tank, maybe you will get a chance to do it sometime.