In a major announcement with significant implications for global naval power, former US President Donald Trump has revealed ambitious plans for a new class of American battleships, which he has personally labeled the "Trump class." The announcement, made from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, positions these vessels as the cornerstone of a sweeping naval modernization drive aimed at countering adversaries like China.
The 'Golden Fleet' Vision: Supremacy and Shipbuilding Revival
Flanked by artistic renderings of the futuristic warships, Trump declared that the new battleships are designed to replace what he called an "old, tired and obsolete" American fleet. The initiative, dubbed the "Golden Fleet," has a dual focus: maintaining unchallenged US military supremacy and reviving the domestic shipbuilding industry. The announcement was made in the presence of key officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"They'll help maintain American military supremacy, revive the American shipbuilding industry, and inspire fear in America's enemies all over the world," Trump stated, emphasizing the strategic and economic goals of the project. He expressed his personal intention to be involved in the design process alongside the US Navy, citing his keen interest in aesthetics. "I'm a very aesthetic person," he remarked, having previously criticized the design of some stealth-focused US vessels for being unnecessarily ugly.
Specifications and Scale of the New Warships
The proposed "Trump class" battleships are set to be engineering marvels. According to the former President, each vessel will be the largest ever built, weighing between 30,000 and 40,000 tonnes, and constructed entirely within the United States. Their armament is planned to be cutting-edge, featuring a combination of:
- Hypersonic weapons
- Electric rail guns
- Advanced cruise missiles
- Sophisticated laser defense systems
- Other top-tier guns and missiles
In a nod to modern warfare, Trump also confirmed the ships would be AI-controlled. The procurement plan is phased, with the US Navy initially expected to build two of these battleships, followed by eight more. Ultimately, Trump envisions a fleet of 20 to 25 such vessels, calling them the future "flagship of the American naval fleet." Existing US aircraft carriers are also slated for upgrades under the same Golden Fleet initiative.
Geopolitical Context and Naming Convention
This announcement does not occur in a vacuum. It comes amid heightened US naval activity in the Caribbean Sea, where Washington has increased pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Recent weeks have seen the US Navy and Coast Guard interdicting oil tankers to disrupt Venezuela's oil exports, a context that underscores the stated goal of projecting power.
While naming a ship class "Trump class" traditionally opens the possibility for a future vessel to be named USS Trump, posters at the event showed the lead ship named USS Defiant. The move follows a recent Navy announcement to commission a new class of US-built frigates, signaling a broad push for naval expansion and modernization.
The unveiling of the "Trump class" battleships represents a bold, if conceptual, step towards reshaping American naval power. It intertwines military strategy with economic nationalism and personal branding, setting a potential roadmap for the future of US defense projects aimed squarely at global competitors.
