MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (AP) – Texas Sen. Ted Cruz detailed his plans for bolstering the U.S. military in South Carolina Tuesday, a state with a large military and veteran population.
Cruz detailed his military platform inside the U.S.S. Yorktown, a World War II-era aircraft carrier.
Cruz called for increasing the number of active duty troops, airplanes and battleships. He did not put a price tag on his plans, but pointed to former President Ronald Reagan’s approach as a model for how he would get it done.
Cruz said he will pay for it by cutting federal spending by at least $500 billion, sell federal assets and properties and also audit the Pentagon to find savings.
“If you think it’s too expensive to defend this nation, try not defending it,” Cruz said.
Voters in South Carolina will cast their votes for a Republican nominee for president on Saturday.