New Naval Initiative Announced
On Monday, President Donald Trump revealed a significant military development at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. He announced the US Navy will construct a new generation of warships, to be designated as the "Trump-class."
The president stated these vessels will surpass all previous US-built warships in size, speed, and power. The initial phase involves building two such battleships, with plans to expand the fleet to between 20 and 25 new vessels in the future.
Official Statements on the Program
Navy Secretary John Phelan emphasized the strategic impact of this initiative. "Our adversaries will know, when the Trump-class USS Defiant appears on the horizon, American victory at sea is inevitable," he declared.
Phelan further described the lead ship to reporters: "The future Trump-class battleship, the USS Defiant, will be the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world's oceans. I want to thank the president for his vision to make this game-changing capability for the United States navy."
He drew a historical parallel, stating, "The Iowa was designed to go on the attack with the biggest guns and that's exactly what will define the Trump-class battleships: offensive firepower from the biggest guns of our era. This ship isn't just to swat the arrows. It is going to reach out and kill the archers."
Phelan also referenced a classic television series, saying, "Like Trump, Phelan approvingly cited Victory at Sea, a 1950s TV series about naval combat during the second world war. 'Now this new battleship will command everything from warships to drones and everything in between,' he said. 'We're going to make battle groups great again.'"
Technical Specifications and Historical Context
Historically, battleships were massive, heavily armored vessels equipped with large-caliber guns, most prominent during World War II. The largest US battleships of that era, the Iowa-class, displaced approximately 60,000 tons. After the war, their role diminished in favor of aircraft carriers and missiles, with the last US battleships decommissioned in the 1990s.
President Trump outlined the advanced capabilities of the new fleet. "The 'golden fleet' will boast hypersonic weapons and high-power lasers and will carry nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles currently under development," he added. "We're going to restore America as a major shipbuilding power. We're going to ensure the USA is the most powerful fleet anywhere in the world."
Regarding construction, Trump was clear about domestic production: "I just want to be very clear that we're building them here. We're working with others but we're building them here. We have great navy yards. We'll be negotiating with some of the companies that are running those yards."
He also shared his long-term vision for the program: "We envision that these ships will be the first of a whole new class of battleships to be produced in the years to come."
Naming Convention and Recent Precedents
This announcement follows a pattern where facilities have been renamed to include the president's name. Earlier in the month, his administration renamed the US Institute of Peace in Washington. Last week, a board he appointed voted to add his name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, now called the Trump-Kennedy Center.
Traditionally, US battleship classes were named after states, while aircraft carriers are often named for former presidents. In January, the Navy announced two future carriers would be named the USS William J. Clinton and the USS George W. Bush.
