Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has announced plans for the US Navy to build two new ‘Trump Class’ battleships, outlining an ambitious proposal aimed at strengthening American naval dominance. The President stated that the new vessels will be “the fastest, the biggest, and 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built.”
Constructed in the United States and made of steel, the ships will be equipped with missiles, guns, lasers, and hypersonic weapons. Trump noted that they will form the centerpiece of the Navy’s ‘Golden Fleet’ initiative.
The programme will initially include two battleships, with plans to eventually expand the fleet to between 20 and 25 new ships. The first vessel will be named the USS Defiant, with Trump stating that he will be personally involved in decisions related to its appearance and design.
— Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan (@SECNAV) December 23, 2025
Largest battleship in US history
The announcement comes as the US continues to build up a significant naval presence near Venezuela’s coast. Under an operation known as ‘Operation Southern Spear,’ US forces have carried out multiple actions in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, which Trump said are aimed at cracking down on drug cartels.
The most recent operation targeted what the US Southern Command described as a ‘low-profile vessel’ travelling along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and involved in narcotics trafficking activities. The US Navy has also seized two oil tankers and is believed to be in active pursuit of a third vessel, according to officials.
President Trump made the new battleship announcement at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where he spoke alongside mock-up images of the new ships bearing the label ‘Trump Class.’ A senior administration official confirmed that this will be the official name of the new class of vessel.
Speaking about the project, Trump remarked that the ships have been under design consideration for a long time and claimed each would be the largest battleship in US history and the world. The President noted that the US has not built a battleship since 1994, adding that the new vessels would be among the most lethal surface warfare ships in the Navy’s arsenal, surpassed only by submarines.
In addition to the new ‘Trump Class’ battleship, the broader naval expansion plan includes increasing the number of other warships, including a smaller and more agile frigate class.
Historically, battleships are large, heavily armoured vessels armed with powerful guns designed to attack enemy ships or bombard targets on land. This type of warship reached its peak during the Second World War, with the Iowa-class being the largest battleship class built by the United States.
The Trump administration has repeatedly criticised the slow pace and high costs associated with the current US defence industry. Just a month ago, the Navy scrapped plans to build a new small warship, citing delays and escalating costs. Other major programmes, including the Ford-class aircraft carrier and Columbia-class submarines, have also failed to meet deadlines and budget targets.
Despite these challenges, Trump said that the proposed naval expansion would be accompanied by renewed pressure on defence contractors to speed up production and rein in costs. The President added that he plans to meet with major defence firms next week to address these issues.
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