Trump Announces 'Trump Class' Battleships for Navy's 'Golden Fleet'

On December 22, 2025, President Trump announced a new class of Navy battleships, dubbed the "Trump Class," as part of what he called the "Golden Fleet" initiative, unveiled at Mar-a-Lago. Trump said the lead ship, USS Defiant, and a second vessel would be the first of an eventual 20 to 25 ships, describing them as the fastest and most powerful battleships ever built, equipped with artificial intelligence, directed-energy lasers, hypersonic and nuclear cruise missiles, and rail guns.

Naval analysts noted that traditional battleships have been obsolete for decades, replaced by carriers, submarines, and missile destroyers, and questioned whether the announcement reflected a serious acquisition program or a branding exercise built around the president's name. Construction on the class is not planned to begin until 2030, and full congressional funding and detailed specifications remain undetermined.

Critics pointed to the timing, noting existing Navy shipbuilding programs already face maintenance backlogs, recruitment shortfalls, and cost overruns, and that a new, vaguely defined ship class risks diverting attention from more pressing needs.