Step Up Now or Step Out – RedState
Earlier Wednesday, we saw that President Trump intended to crack down on the exorbitant salaries, bonuses, stock buybacks and dividends of U.S. defense contractors, insisting that they instead focus their resources on new production and facilities.
This previous shot across the bow was aimed at industry in general:
Learn more: Trump cracks down on exorbitant defense salaries to boost security
Today, President Trump unleashed an attack on one company in particular: defense contracting giant Raytheon.
– Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 7, 2026
The president’s message, originally published on his Truth Social platform, reads:
I have been informed by the War Department that the defense contractor, Raytheon, has been the least responsive to the needs of the War Department, the slowest to increase its volume, and the most aggressive in spending on its shareholders rather than on the needs and demands of the U.S. military. Raytheon seems to think that this is the Biden administration, and that it is “business as usual”, THIS IS NOT the case! Either Raytheon steps in and starts investing in more upfront investments like factories and equipment, or they will no longer do business with the War Department. Additionally, if Raytheon wishes to continue its business with the United States government, under no circumstances will they be allowed to make additional stock buybacks, after spending tens of billions of dollars, until they are able to get their act together. Our country comes FIRST, and they’re going to have to learn it the hard way!
Again, this will require an overhaul of contracts. But it’s doable.
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These companies, we hasten to point out, are unlike the other large corporations that make up much of the national economy. It’s not as if Washington is demanding, say, Walmart, executive compensation, just like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and her ilk would love to do. No, they are a defense contractor, paid for with taxpayer dollars, and the buyers of their products are citizens of the United States of America, specifically the War Department, which is under the control of the president. In fact, it renegotiates an agreement between a buyer and a seller; we, the people, are the buyers.
This remains a developing story. Stay tuned!
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and the bold leadership of his administration, we are respected on the world stage and our enemies are put on notice.
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