In brief
President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to commission a new fleet of 'battleships', named the 'Trump Class', set to enhance the US Navy's capabilities amidst growing competition with China. The first ship, USS Defiant, is expected to begin construction soon, with operational status in two-and-a-half years. This initiative aims to modernize naval forces and create thousands of jobs.
President Donald Trump has announced that the US 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.
The announcement is part of a larger planned expansion of the US Navy by President Trump in both manned and unmanned vessels, including larger missile-armed warships and smaller vessels.
Officials have warned that the US currently lags behind China in both shipbuilding capacity and total output.
Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida alongside defence secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, Trump revealed he approved the construction of two new battleships to start, with a plan to build up to 25.
They'll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built, Trump declared.
Once completed, these vessels would be equipped to carry hypersonic and extremely lethal weapons and would serve as flagships of the US Navy.
Claiming that their construction would create thousands of jobs, Trump emphasized that the vessels would be built domestically.
In a recent interview, Secretary of the Navy Phelan stated that Trump had specifically requested a big, beautiful battleship-type vessel as part of the fleet, which will also include dozens of support and transport vessels.
While there is hope for the new ships, it is worth noting that a similar initiative during Trump's first term, the Constellatio-class frigate, was cancelled in 2024 after cost overruns and delays.
Trump's latest push follows growing concerns as US naval resources have surged towards the Caribbean amidst rising tensions with Venezuela.
In conclusion, Trump's announcement highlights the administration's commitment to revitalizing the US shipbuilding industry and reasserting its naval dominance amid a rapidly evolving global maritime landscape.
