President Donald Trump has announced the United States will commission a new series of heavily armed Navy 'battleships' named after himself, as part of a revamped 'Golden Fleet'. Construction on the Trump-class USS Defiant ship, which will be equipped to carry an array of weapons, is expected to begin soon, with Trump stating that the first vessels will be operational in two-and-a-half years. This announcement is part of a larger planned expansion of the U.S. Navy by President Trump, focusing on both manned and unmanned vessels, including larger missile-armed warships and smaller vessels.
Officials have warned that the U.S. currently lags behind China in both shipbuilding capacity and total output. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida, alongside defense secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump approved the construction of two new battleships to start, with plans to build up to 25. 'They'll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built,' Trump claimed.
Once completed, these armed vessels would be equipped to carry hypersonic and 'extremely lethal' weapons, and are expected to serve as flagship vessels of the U.S. Navy. The construction is expected to generate thousands of jobs domestically. In addition to the battleships, Trump emphasized the need for a stronger naval presence in light of recent operations spanning from the Red Sea to the Caribbean, citing concerns over U.S. capacity to counter illicit activities and maintain maritime security.
Despite previous setbacks with naval projects facing delays, Trump remains committed to revitalizing U.S. shipbuilding, bolstered by recent international agreements aimed at enhancing naval operations. The unveiling of the 'Golden Fleet' thus represents both a strategic military goal and a politically charged branding exercise in the battles for naval supremacy.
Officials have warned that the U.S. currently lags behind China in both shipbuilding capacity and total output. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida, alongside defense secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump approved the construction of two new battleships to start, with plans to build up to 25. 'They'll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built,' Trump claimed.
Once completed, these armed vessels would be equipped to carry hypersonic and 'extremely lethal' weapons, and are expected to serve as flagship vessels of the U.S. Navy. The construction is expected to generate thousands of jobs domestically. In addition to the battleships, Trump emphasized the need for a stronger naval presence in light of recent operations spanning from the Red Sea to the Caribbean, citing concerns over U.S. capacity to counter illicit activities and maintain maritime security.
Despite previous setbacks with naval projects facing delays, Trump remains committed to revitalizing U.S. shipbuilding, bolstered by recent international agreements aimed at enhancing naval operations. The unveiling of the 'Golden Fleet' thus represents both a strategic military goal and a politically charged branding exercise in the battles for naval supremacy.
