President Donald Trump has announced a major naval expansion plan, centred on the construction of two new 'Trump Class' battleships, which he claims will be the most formidable surface warships ever created.
The 'Centrepiece' of a New Golden Fleet
In a briefing held at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Tuesday 23 December 2025, the US leader presented the vessels as the future "centrepiece" of the US Navy's Golden Fleet initiative. Standing next to mock-up images labelled 'Trump Class', Mr Trump stated the ships would be "the fastest, the biggest and 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built".
The ambitious project, aimed at cementing American naval dominance, will start with two vessels. The first will be named the USS Defiant, with President Trump confirming his personal involvement in its design. The plan envisions eventually expanding the fleet to include 20 to 25 new ships.
Unprecedented Firepower and Construction Challenges
The proposed battleships are to be constructed in America using steel and armed with a formidable array of weaponry. This arsenal is set to include missiles, guns, lasers, and advanced hypersonic weapons. "There's never been anything like these ships," Mr Trump asserted, adding that they have been under design consideration for a long period.
This announcement comes against a backdrop of the administration's persistent complaints about the slow pace and high costs of the current defence industry. Notably, the US Navy scrapped plans for a new small warship just a month ago due to delays and budget overruns. Similar issues have plagued other projects like the new Ford-class aircraft carriers and Columbia-class submarines.
Broader Naval Strategy and Industry Pressure
The 'Trump Class' is just one part of a wider naval build-up. The Golden Fleet project also aims to increase numbers of other vessel types, including a new class of smaller, more agile frigates. This expansion aligns with recent US military activity, particularly near Venezuela, where American forces have struck over 20 vessels since early September in what President Trump describes as a crackdown on drug cartels. Officials also report the seizure of two oil tankers and the "active pursuit" of a third in the region.
To address the historical issues of defence procurement, President Trump said the naval expansion would be paired with renewed pressure on major defence contractors. He plans to meet with industry leaders the following week to demand faster production and stricter cost control, signalling a direct attempt to overhaul the current system.
The term 'battleship' recalls the heavily armoured giants that dominated the seas during the Second World War, with the US Iowa-class being the nation's previous largest. The last American battleship was built in 1994, making this new class a significant and controversial return to large-scale surface combatant philosophy.
