Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi isn't holding back. On Wednesday, she took aim at President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, arguing that their latest budget proposal puts military spending ahead of the financial struggles facing American families.
In a post on X, Pelosi went straight for the jugular, accusing Republicans of crafting an "America Last" budget. She quoted Trump's own words from April, when he said he couldn't meet Americans' needs because "we're fighting wars."
"Now, Republicans are reflecting those values with a new 'America Last' budget that spends another $73 billion on Trump's endless wars while working families struggle to make ends meet," Pelosi wrote.
Pelosi's criticism is part of a broader Democratic offensive against the GOP's spending priorities. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) earlier accused Trump of lacking a clear strategy for the conflict with Iran, warning that prolonged military operations endanger U.S. troops and drive up costs for households back home.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also weighed in, opposing Trump's plan to push military spending above $1 trillion. She argued that such a massive increase would inevitably lead to cuts in healthcare, housing, education, and climate programs — the very things that help working families.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg echoed that sentiment, saying the additional war funding would make life less affordable for Americans. And Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) took aim at specific line items, criticizing proposed spending on a White House ballroom and a "weaponization fund." Her point: that money could instead go to infrastructure, public health, and education.
On the other side of the aisle, Trump is pushing hard for higher defense spending. Earlier this month, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte highlighted what's being called the "Trump Trillion" — more than $1.21 trillion in additional defense spending commitments from NATO allies since Trump's first term. That's a windfall for major U.S. defense contractors like Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT), RTX Corp. (RTX), Boeing Co. (BA), and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC).
Trump has also urged Congress to boost defense funding and pass the SAVE America Act, calling for "Reconciliation 3.0" — which includes $350 billion for defense — to become a top priority. He's been touting U.S. military strength, recruitment records, and morale, arguing that these measures will protect future generations.
But Democrats see it differently. To them, it's a choice between funding endless wars and investing in the American people. And with the 2026 midterms looming, this budget battle is shaping up to be a defining issue.
