United States President Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a new class of battleships, dubbed the “Trump-class,” which he claims will be larger, faster, and “100 times more powerful” than any previous American-built warship. The announcement comes as part of Trump’s broader initiative to create what he calls the “Golden Fleet,” intended to reinforce US naval dominance in the 21st century.

Details of the Trump-Class Battleships

Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Monday, Trump emphasized that the new vessels would be “cutting edge,” incorporating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) systems, directed-energy lasers, hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, and rail guns. These weapons systems are currently in various stages of development within the US Navy.

Trump highlighted that the ships would mark a return to large-scale naval power, reminiscent of the battleships of the 20th century:

“Each one of these will be the largest battleship in the history of our country, the largest battleship in the history of the world,” he said.

The first ship, named USS Defiant, is expected to begin construction immediately, with an initial plan to build two ships. However, the fleet could eventually expand to 10–25 vessels over an unspecified timeline, according to the president.

Inspiration and Historical Context

Trump referenced the Great White Fleet, commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt in the early 20th century, as a model for projecting US naval strength worldwide. He also cited the World War II documentary Victory at Sea, emphasizing that the Trump-class battleships would serve as a modern symbol of American military supremacy.

Although modern battleships like the Iowa-class weighed approximately 60,000 tonnes, the new vessels are projected to weigh around 35,000 tonnes with a smaller crew of 650–850 sailors. Unlike historic battleships that relied on massive naval guns, these ships will primarily utilize missile-based weaponry.

Navy Secretary John Phelan described the Trump-class ships as a “spiritual successor” to traditional battleships, adapted to modern naval warfare with advanced propulsion, automated systems, and AI-guided combat capabilities.

Strategic Goals and Production Plans

Trump stated that the fleet is “a counter to everybody,” emphasizing that the ships are not intended to target any specific country but rather to ensure overall US maritime dominance. The president also addressed concerns about military procurement and defense contractor performance, pledging to hold executives accountable for production delays and cost overruns.

“We don’t want to have executives making $50 million a year, issuing big dividends to everybody, and also doing buybacks while production of F-35s and other jets languishes,” he said.

The announcement underscores a renewed focus on naval modernization, combining traditional battleship concepts with futuristic technologies designed to project power globally.

Technological Features

Key features of the Trump-class battleships are expected to include:

• Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) for navigation, targeting, and automated defense.
• Directed-energy lasers capable of intercepting missiles and drones.
• Hypersonic and nuclear cruise missiles for long-range strike capabilities.
• Rail guns for rapid, precision projectile deployment.
• Reduced crew size with automated systems to enhance efficiency.

These features aim to establish a next-generation warship capable of operating in multi-domain naval warfare scenarios, from traditional ship-to-ship combat to anti-air and missile defense.