The American leader has stated that the new fleet will be “100 times more powerful” than any battleship that has ever been constructed.
President Donald Trump has revealed a new class of battleships for the US Navy’s “Golden Fleet,” describing them as the largest and most powerful ones ever built. Speaking on Monday from Mar-a-Lago during what the White House referred to as a “major announcement,” Trump said he gave the green – light for two ships to begin with, and there are plans for up to 25. He was accompanied by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Navy Secretary John Phelan.
According to Trump, these battleships, which are larger than the WWII – era Iowa – class ships, will be equipped with hypersonic missiles, rail guns, and lasers. The Wall Street Journal, which was the first to report Trump’s plans, stated that the Navy intends to acquire the first ship in 2030.
“As you are aware, we are in desperate need of ships,” Trump said. “They will be the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever constructed.”
This plan is part of a broader Navy expansion that includes both manned and unmanned ships.
Officials have cautioned that the US lags behind China in shipbuilding capacity and output. When asked if the new warships were meant as a counter to China, Trump refused to single out Beijing. “It is a counter to everyone,” he said.
The announcement is made at a time when US operations in the Caribbean have intensified, with the Coast Guard targeting oil tankers associated with Venezuela. Since September, US Navy ships have been deployed to intercept vessels that Washington claims are involved in drug trafficking and to block oil shipments. Caracas denies these claims and accuses the US of seeking regime change to access its resources.
The Navy has also been active in the Red Sea, where it has responded to attacks on commercial shipping related to regional conflicts.
Last week, the US Navy announced another new set of vessels based on the US Coast Guard’s Legend – class National Security Cutter.
“Recent operations from the Red Sea to the Caribbean make the requirement undeniable – our small surface combatant inventory is only a third of what we need,” Chief of Naval Operations Daryl Caudle said. “We need more capable blue – water small combatants to bridge the gap and keep our [destroyers] focused on the high – end fight,” he added.
The Navy recently canceled a smaller warship project due to delays and cost overruns and still faces challenges with its Ford – class carriers and Columbia – class submarines.