President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will commission a new series of heavily armed Navy battleships named after himself, as part of a revamped Golden Fleet. Construction on the Trump-class USS Defiant ship, which will be equipped to carry an array of weapons, is expected to begin soon, with Trump saying the first vessels will be operational in two-and-a-half years.
This announcement is part of a larger planned expansion of the U.S. Navy by President Trump, incorporating both manned and unmanned vessels, including larger missile-armed warships alongside smaller vessels. Officials have warned that the U.S. currently lags behind China in both shipbuilding capacity and total output.
While speaking at his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida alongside defense secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, Trump announced the construction of two new battleships to start, with a plan to ultimately build up to 25. They'll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built, he stated.
Once completed, Trump asserted that the armed vessels would be equipped to carry hypersonic and extremely lethal weapons, serving as the flagships of the U.S. Navy. He noted that the ships would be built domestically, creating thousands of American jobs.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Secretary Phelan mentioned that Trump had specifically requested a big, beautiful battleship-type vessel as part of this fleet, which will also include dozens of support and transport vessels. This ambitious plan comes against a backdrop of operational demands that have underscored the need for a robust naval presence and capabilities.
Reflecting on past endeavors, a similar vessel, the Constellatio-class frigate, was canceled after significant delays and costs overruns, leading many to remain cautiously optimistic about the new proposals. Trump has emphasized the need to resurge U.S. shipbuilding to maintain maritime superiority, especially amidst rising tensions both regionally and globally, particularly with respect to China.
This announcement occurs as the U.S. has increased naval and air assets in the Caribbean, a strategic move amidst ongoing tensions with Venezuela. Trump claimed that military actions taken to intercept drug trafficking vessels have saved thousands of American lives, igniting further debate over the U.S.'s role and engagement in international waters.
