Former U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States has been "ripped off" for decades on both trade and defense, arguing that allies and competitors alike have benefited at Washington’s expense. Speaking in remarks posted on social media on 14 July, Trump claimed the cumulative cost of what he called unfair arrangements has reached "trillions of dollars." Trump, who is seeking a return to the White House in the 2026 election, declared that "the days of America being ripped off are over" and urged other countries to acknowledge U.S. contributions. While he did not outline specific policy steps, his comments signal that trade imbalances and defense burden-sharing would remain focal points of his platform.