The president introduced new plans to revive U.S. shipbuilding and expand the Navy’s ship inventory.
President Donald Trump unveiled plans for a new fleet of large warships, to be called “Trump-class” battleships, as part of his vision to build a “Golden Fleet,” in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday.
This new initiative comes as the Navy has seen setbacks in its shipbuilding efforts in recent decades, including the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program last month.
Speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the president referenced the Iowa-class battleships of the World War II era, saying the new battleship class will represent “100 times the force, the power.”
“I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin the construction of two brand new, very large—largest we’ve ever built—battleships,” Trump said.
“There’s never been anything like these ships. These have been under design consideration for a long time, and it started with me in my first term.”
Trump stated that the plan is to begin with two ships, expand to 10, and eventually increase the total to between 20 and 25.
He said the first two ships in the class will be built in 2.5 years.
The president also said he plans to meet with defense contractors in the coming days to discuss limiting executive pay, dividends, and stock buybacks, and to encourage them to invest more in their businesses.
Speaking at the event, Phelan referred to the new warships as the “Trump class battleship,” and stated they will be the “largest, deadliest, most versatile, and best looking warship anywhere on the world’s oceans.”
One of the first ships in the new class will be named the USS Defiant.
Last week, Phelan first announced plans for a separate new class of frigates, to begin production under the new “Golden Fleet” initiative.
“I have directed a new Frigate class as part of @POTUS Golden Fleet,” Phelan stated on X on Dec. 19. “Built on a proven American design, in American shipyards, with an American supply chain, this effort is focused on one outcome: delivering combat power to the Fleet fast.”
Trump’s announcement comes days after he signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing $901 billion in military and national security programs for Fiscal Year 2026.
Emel Akan and Ryan Morgan
