President Trump delivers remarks to the troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina — 2/13/2026
Watch on YouTube ↗  |  February 13, 2026 at 19:08 UTC  |  26:16  |  CNBC
Speakers
Donald Trump — President of the United States

Summary

  • President Trump outlines a massive expansion of US military capabilities in his second term (2026), citing a $1 trillion annual defense budget with further increases planned for the following year.
  • He announces the renaming of the "Department of Defense" to the "Department of War," signaling a shift toward a more aggressive, combat-focused military posture.
  • The President details recent military successes, including "Operation Midnight Hammer" (strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities) and the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.
  • A specific focus is placed on heavy manufacturing for the Navy, explicitly favoring steel over aluminum for a new class of battleships, and confirming orders for tanks, helicopters, and bombers.
  • Trump claims unprecedented foreign capital inflows ($18 trillion in 11 months), suggesting a decoupling of the US economy from global peers and a dominant US Dollar.
Trade Ideas
Ticker Direction Speaker Thesis Time
ITA /LMT /BA
LONG Donald Trump
President of the United States 		"We're investing also $1 trillion in our armed forces, most we've ever spent. And next year it's being raised... We're also purchasing 30 new and modified Abrams tanks... 48 new Blackhawk, Chinook, and King Stallion helicopters." The administration is shifting from "maintenance" to "expansion" with a specific focus on heavy hardware (tanks, helos) rather than just software or cyber. The explicit mention of increasing the budget *again* next year provides multi-year revenue visibility for prime contractors. The renaming to "Department of War" implies a higher operational tempo and consumption of munitions/equipment. Long Defense Primes and the Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA). Specific beneficiaries include Lockheed Martin (Blackhawks/King Stallions) and Boeing (Chinooks). Budget appropriation delays or geopolitical de-escalation reducing urgency. —
X /NUE
LONG Donald Trump
President of the United States 		"We're going to be building a number of battleships... The hulls are made of seven inches of steel, not aluminum. Aluminum is fine... but I'll take steel." The President explicitly disparages aluminum for naval applications in favor of heavy steel. This signals a government-mandated shift in material procurement for the Navy's new "10 battleship" order. This creates a guaranteed demand shock for domestic steel producers, particularly those capable of military-grade production. Long US Steel producers. Supply chain bottlenecks or raw material cost inflation. —
UUP /SPY
LONG Donald Trump
President of the United States 		"We have $18 trillion being invested right now in our country from other companies and countries... The King of Saudi Arabia... said 'now you have the hottest country anywhere in the world.'" If $18 trillion in foreign capital has entered the US in under a year, demand for the US Dollar (to facilitate these investments) and US assets (Equities/Real Estate) is at historic highs. This liquidity wall supports high equity valuations and a strong dollar despite high spending. Long US Dollar (UUP) and US Broad Equities (SPY) as the "capital magnet" thesis plays out. Global liquidity crisis or sudden capital flight if geopolitical stability fractures. —
CONSTRUCTION
LONG Donald Trump
President of the United States 		"We'll also be investing over a billion dollars to improve on-base housing and a lot more than that at Fort Bragg... We're going to get that done." The administration is prioritizing physical infrastructure upgrades on domestic bases. This creates direct government contracts for construction firms and materials suppliers operating near major military hubs like Fort Bragg. Long Construction and Engineering firms with government exposure. Bureaucratic delays in contract awarding. 10:05