President Donald Trump has announced plans for a brand-new class of U.S. Navy battleships, reviving a type of warship the United States has not built in decades and placing them at the center of what he calls a new “Golden Fleet.”
Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said he has approved the construction of two large, American-built battleships that would eventually grow into a fleet of 20 to 25 vessels. The ships will be known as the Trump-class, with the first vessel set to be named USS Defiant.
“These will be the biggest and most powerful battleships we’ve ever built,” Trump said, claiming they would be faster, more advanced, and far more lethal than any previous surface warship. He added that the U.S. has not constructed a battleship since the 1990s and argued the Navy now needs a dramatic upgrade to meet modern threats.
🚨 @POTUS: As Commander-in-Chief, it's my great honor to announce that I've approved a plan for the Navy to begin the construction of two brand new, very large battleships... They'll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far — 100x more powerful than any battleship ever built. pic.twitter.com/226O1UxOeS
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 22, 2025
What the Trump-class battleships will look like
According to the administration, the new ships will displace more than 30,000 tons, making them larger than current destroyers and many cruisers. They are expected to carry a mix of traditional naval guns and next-generation weapons, including hypersonic missiles, nuclear-capable sea-launched cruise missiles, electronic rail guns, and high-powered laser systems. Artificial intelligence is also expected to play a role in ship operations and combat systems.
Navy Secretary John Phelan, who appeared alongside Trump, described the Trump-class as a modern successor to the iconic Iowa-class battleships that dominated much of the 20th century. “This ship isn’t just defensive,” Phelan said. “It’s designed to reach out and destroy threats before they can strike.”
A personal imprint on the Navy
The announcement marks another instance of Trump placing his personal stamp on a major federal initiative. The president said he plans to be directly involved in the ships’ design, citing long-standing complaints about the appearance and effectiveness of existing U.S. warships.
Trump also stressed that the battleships will be built entirely in the United States by American workers, a move he said would create thousands of jobs and help revive the country’s shipbuilding industry.
Pressure on defense contractors
Alongside the fleet expansion, Trump signaled tougher scrutiny of defense contractors, many of whom have faced criticism for cost overruns and production delays. He said he plans to meet with major defense firms to address slow delivery timelines and examine whether executive pay, dividends, and stock buybacks are contributing to missed targets.
“We don’t want massive executive payouts while jets and ships are years behind schedule,” Trump said, referencing ongoing delays in programs such as the F-35.
The administration is reportedly considering measures that would limit executive compensation and shareholder payouts for defense contractors whose projects run over budget.
Not aimed at one rival, Trump says
While some U.S. officials have warned that a lack of new battleships has allowed China to gain an advantage at sea, Trump downplayed the idea that the Golden Fleet is aimed at any single country.
“It’s a counter to everybody,” he said. “It’s about peace through strength. Hopefully, we never have to use them.”
If completed as planned, the Trump-class battleships would mark the first time since the Gulf War era that the U.S. Navy fields battleships designed for frontline combat, signaling a major shift in American naval strategy and industrial priorities.
If you find my content helpful, consider buying me a coffee to show your appreciation and help me continue creating.
Buy Me a Coffee