President Donald Trump has unveiled an ambitious vision to reshape the U.S. Navy, announcing on December 22, 2025, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, a plan to construct a new class of warship he is boldly calling a "battleship" as the centerpiece of a "Golden Fleet." The announcement, made with characteristic flair and confidence, marks the most significant proposed shift in American naval strategy in decades, promising vessels that are "the fastest, the biggest, and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built," according to Trump, as reported by the Associated Press and Sky News.
The project’s flagship will be the USS Defiant, the first of what Trump envisions as a fleet of 20 to 25 "Trump Class" battleships. Constructed in America and made of steel, these ships are set to be armed with an array of advanced weaponry: hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, rail guns, and high-powered lasers. While these technologies are in varying stages of development by the Navy, Trump asserted, "There's never been anything like these ships. These have been under design consideration for a long time. Each one of these will be the largest battleship in the history of our country. The largest battleship in the history of the world."
The president’s hands-on approach to the project is a hallmark of his leadership style. Trump declared, "The U.S. Navy will lead the design of these ships along with me, because I’m a very aesthetic person." He has a history of involving himself in naval design choices, once telling a shipyard, "I looked at it, I said, ‘That’s a terrible-looking ship, let’s make it beautiful,’" and he intends to be personally involved in the appearance and design of the USS Defiant as well. Navy Secretary John Phelan echoed the president’s enthusiasm, stating the new vessel “will inspire awe and reverence for the American flag whenever it pulls into a foreign port.”
The timing of the announcement is notable, coming just a month after the Navy scrapped plans to build a new, small warship due to mounting delays and cost overruns. Instead, the Navy opted for a modified version of a Coast Guard cutter, a decision that underscored persistent challenges in delivering new ship classes on time and within budget. Other high-profile programs, like the Ford-class aircraft carrier and Columbia-class submarines, have also struggled with delays and overruns, fueling frustration in Washington and within the Pentagon.
Trump’s new battleship initiative is intended as a dramatic reversal of these trends. He has promised to pressure defense contractors to speed up production and rein in costs, with meetings planned with major firms in the coming weeks. "The naval expansion will also be paired with renewed pressure on defense contractors to speed up production and control costs," he told reporters, as cited by Sky News.
Historically, the term "battleship" refers to a very specific type of warship: large, heavily armored, and armed with massive guns, designed for ship-to-ship combat and shore bombardment. These ships were at their zenith during World War II, with the U.S. Navy’s Iowa-class battleships weighing in at around 60,000 tons. After the war, however, the role of battleships diminished rapidly in favor of aircraft carriers and long-range missiles. The U.S. modernized four Iowa-class battleships in the 1980s—adding cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and modern radars—but by the 1990s, all were decommissioned.
Trump’s plan is a clear nod to this storied past, but with a distinctly modern twist. According to a newly created website for the "Golden Fleet," the new guided missile battleships will be roughly the same size as the Iowa-class but weigh about half as much—around 35,000 tons—and have much smaller crews, between 650 and 850 sailors. The primary weapons will be missiles, not the traditional large naval guns. This reflects a broader shift in naval warfare, where advanced missile systems and electronic warfare capabilities are increasingly important.
Still, the technological hurdles are significant. The Navy has struggled for years to integrate some of the advanced systems Trump envisions. The railgun program, for instance, consumed hundreds of millions of dollars and over 15 years before being abandoned in 2021. Laser technology has made more progress, with one system now deployed on eight destroyers after eight years of development, but its operational use is still limited. Deploying nuclear cruise missiles on ships could also raise thorny questions about compliance with non-proliferation treaties the U.S. has signed with Russia.
Design efforts for the new Trump Class are already underway, with construction expected to begin in the early 2030s, according to a U.S. official who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. While the announcement has generated excitement among some naval enthusiasts and defense hawks, others in the defense community have raised questions about the feasibility of fielding such advanced systems on a new class of ship, especially given the Navy’s recent track record with new vessel programs.
The announcement also comes amid heightened U.S. naval activity in the Caribbean and Pacific, particularly near the coast of Venezuela. As part of Operation Southern Spear—a campaign aimed at cracking down on drug cartels—the U.S. Navy has struck several vessels suspected of narco-trafficking and seized two oil tankers, with a third reportedly being pursued. Trump’s emphasis on a revitalized, more powerful Navy is, in part, a response to these ongoing security challenges. He has repeatedly argued that a robust and technologically superior fleet is essential to maintaining U.S. dominance at sea and deterring adversaries.
Trump’s approach to naval modernization is not without controversy. He has often favored older technology over newer systems, famously calling for a return to steam-powered catapults on aircraft carriers instead of the modern electromagnetic launch system. He has also been outspoken about the appearance and condition of Navy ships, often texting Navy Secretary Phelan late at night about issues like rust or the aesthetics of ships in shipyards.
For supporters, Trump’s vision is a much-needed shot in the arm for a Navy that has struggled with procurement and modernization. They see the Golden Fleet as a symbol of renewed American resolve and ingenuity. Critics, however, worry that the focus on size, speed, and firepower may obscure the practical challenges of building and maintaining such vessels. They point to the Navy’s recent difficulties in bringing new ships online and question whether the ambitious timelines and technological promises can be met.
Regardless of where one stands, the announcement has reignited debate about the future of the U.S. Navy and the role of battleships in modern warfare. As design work begins and the world watches, all eyes will be on whether Trump’s Golden Fleet can live up to its promise—or if it will join the long list of ambitious military projects that struggled to leave the drawing board.
In the coming years, the fate of the Trump Class battleships will be a litmus test for American naval power and innovation in the face of mounting global challenges and technological uncertainty.
