Former President Donald Trump announced plans for a new series of naval vessels, which he referred to as "battleships," to be named the "Trump Class." These ships are intended to form part of a broader "Golden Fleet" initiative.
Key Details of the Announcement
- Vessel Type and Naming: The proposed ships would be designated "Trump Class USS Defiant."
- Armament: They are expected to carry an array of weapons, including hypersonic and what Trump described as "extremely lethal" systems.
- Timeline: Construction is anticipated to commence soon, with an estimated operational readiness of two-and-a-half years.
- Scale of Project: Trump approved the initial construction of two such vessels, with a stated long-term goal of building up to 25.
- Performance Claims: Trump claimed these vessels would be "the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built," asserting they would serve as flagships for the US Navy.
- Economic Impact: The vessels are slated for domestic construction, projected to create "thousands" of jobs.
Context and Related Statements
The announcement was made at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan present.
Secretary Phelan, in a Wall Street Journal interview, mentioned that Trump had specifically requested a "big, beautiful" battleship-type vessel. This proposal is part of a larger planned expansion of the US Navy, encompassing both manned and unmanned vessels, including larger missile-armed warships and smaller craft.
Officials have previously indicated that the United States currently trails China in both shipbuilding capacity and overall naval output.
Separately, on December 19, the US Navy announced a new class of smaller vessels, based on the US Coast Guard's Legend-class National Security Cutter. Chief of Naval Operations Daryl Caudle commented on this, stating, "Recent operations from the Red Sea to the Caribbean make the requirement undeniable - our small surface combatant inventory is a third of what we have. We need more capable blue water small combatants to close the gap and keep our [destroyers] focused on the high-end fight."