Will It be Commander-in-Chief Clinton or Trump?

Now that the nominations for the upcoming Presidential elections are down to two real contenders, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, let’s take a look to see how the military and defense industry will fare under each potential Commander-in-Chief.

Clinton has not laid out a clear position on defense spending during either debates or campaign speeches. On her website she has argued for permanently ending sequester. This means she supports how much government agencies, including DOD, can spend. The defense industry does seem to be buying into this. As of April 2016, Hillary Clinton has collected more money from employees of the largest contractors with the Department of Defense than any other candidate on either side. I guess they see her as the winner come November.

But let us take a look at the past performances of both her husband and her would-be predecessor, which one could logically argue that she will follow. Both President Clinton and President Obama cut defense budgets and shrank the military. Though both came to office either soon after a major military build up for the Gulf War I or, in President Obama’s case, during the slowdown of the War on Terror. Will the new President Clinton follow the old path or blaze a new one with new friends from the defense industry? Only time and the voters can tell.

As for Donald Trump, his plan is pretty cut and dry. “We will spend what we need to rebuild our military,” he said. “It is the cheapest, single investment we can make. We will develop, build and purchase the best equipment known to mankind. Our military dominance must be unquestioned, and I mean unquestioned, by anybody and everybody.” http://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-wants-add-war-terror-101500262.html;_ylt=AwrB_s2uaitXaeUAJQBXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTBsaGVqY3E0BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHNlYwNzcg--Trump was is vague about the details of this plan of his, but I would not underestimate him.  The rest of the GOP did and just that and look where they are now.

Will it be President Clinton or President Trump?  Either way things are going to get very interesting in the world of defense.