Trump Announces New ‘Trump-Class’ Warships to Stop Expanded US Navy
President Donald Trump unveiled an ambitious plan to expand the navy on Monday in an address from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. He announced plans for a new warship called the “Golden Fleet” and revealed that he had approved plans for 2 new warships. The announcement marks a historic shift in US naval strategy and defense priorities. Trump said the new ships will be “100 times more powerful” than previous warships ever built. The announcement came with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio accompanying the president.
The Golden Fleet Initiative Takes Shape
The administration plans to create a new class of surface troops called the “Trump-class” warship. The first ship will bear the name USS Defiant, marking its place as the lead ship in this class of history. Trump said he has already authorized the Navy to immediately begin buying ships. The Navy aims to purchase the first two ships within two and a half years. Following this first phase, production can increase to 10 ships in total. Trump’s long-term vision includes 20 to 25 US Navy warships eventually.
Back in April, Trump signed an executive order declaring the erosion of America’s marine workforce a national security issue. The order aims to introduce a wide-ranging government overhaul to rebuild domestic shipyards, end predictable long-term subsidies, and train more maritime workers. It also clearly targets Chinese shipbuilding dominance by aiming to increase tonnage built in the US and keep more commercial and military construction at home. Secretary of the Navy Phelan echoed this urgency and echoed Trump’s vision of American maritime dominance. He warned that shipbuilding and weapons facilities should “pretend we are at war” with China in terms of production speed.
Large Size and Scale Specifications
According to Trump, the ships will be heavily armed, including missiles and traditional naval guns on the platform. He argues that gun-fired explosives may have the same anti-missile effectiveness but at a fraction of the cost. Each ship would displace between 30,000 and 40,000 tons of water and would stretch between 840 and 880 meters in length. The frame, or width, will reach about 105 to 115 feet.
The new ships will be able to reach a speed of more than 30 knots. A crew of 650 to 850 personnel will operate each warship non-stop, enabling sustained combat and sophisticated multi-mission capabilities. The ships will incorporate gas turbine and diesel propulsion systems for efficiency and reliability.
Revolutionary Weapons Systems are Transforming Naval Warfare
Trump said the ships will be equipped with 12 Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missiles capable of hitting targets thousands of miles away. Additionally, each ship will house 128 vertical launch system cells for various missiles. A 32-megajoule electromagnetic rail gun will be installed on the front deck of each ship.
Additionally, two 5-inch guns will provide secondary ammunition for ground engagement and shore bombardment. The ships will also be equipped with high-power lasers ranging from 300 to 600 kilowatts to protect against anti-aircraft missiles. The ships will also carry nuclear cruise launch missiles, which are currently under development.
— Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan (@SECNAV) December 23, 2025
From Cold War to Golden Age: A Historical Perspective
The last American warship left active duty in 1992 when the USS Wisconsin was decommissioned. Before that, the last battleship commissioned was in 1944 during World War II. The US Navy has not built any warships since 1994, making the announcement a surprising departure from military strategy. For decades, small destroyers and aircraft carriers have dominated America’s naval architecture. The future of America’s fleet has been the subject of ongoing debate among defense planners. The latest submarine strategy is currently the champions of submarines, aircraft carriers, and distributed area capabilities as the future strategy of the Navy. Critics argue that large, medium-sized warships are becoming easy targets for hypersonic missiles and carrier-killing systems in today’s wars. Some defense planners argue that large surface ships are more vulnerable to modern missile threats.
Trump spoke of America’s ability to build warships during World War II, and set it as an example of modern defense production in the US. During World War II, the US built many ships a day. Today’s shipyards operate at very low production rates. Trump’s announcement is also tied to a broader plan to accelerate US defense production, resuming the construction momentum of previous generations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIUMxIPC7ys
Dynamic Manufacturing Timeline and Scaling Strategy
The Trump administration aims to build the Trump-class fleet gradually to reduce cost overruns and delays. Early production experience will inform later changes and improvements. Parts for the warship will be sourced and manufactured in states across the United States. Trump plans to meet next week with major defense contractors and press those contractors to speed up production times while putting profits into factory construction. “We’re making the best machines in the world, but they’re not fast enough,” Trump said, demanding companies stop spending billions on stock buybacks and executive dividends.
The Shipbuilding Industry Crisis
U.S. officials have warned that the current U.S. shipbuilding crisis is at odds with China’s tremendous industrial opportunity. According to the Office of Naval Intelligence, China currently has approximately 230 U.S. shipbuilding capabilities. Beijing shipyards produce more than 60% of global merchant ship orders annually. Meanwhile, the US builds about 5 commercial ships each year compared to China’s more than 1,000.
The US Navy currently operates approximately 294 warships while seeking a goal of 355 ships. China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy has more than 370 ships. A Defense Department assessment shows that China has “a large number” of commercial shipyards that are larger and more productive than America’s largest facilities. US officials point to America’s technological superiority in submarine operations and carrier tactics as a lasting advantage. However, China’s growing naval fleet and accelerating industrial production are gradually undermining this aspect.
Broken Systems, Manufacturing Failures, Emergency Solutions
America’s fleet is operating at about 50% capacity despite the Navy’s critical needs. Labor shortages plague the industry as skilled workers leave for better-paying jobs elsewhere. The US Navy’s shipbuilding industry has grown through years of consistent funding and intermittent demand. Congress has failed to pass a full-year budget on time starting in 2019, creating uncertainty for contractors. These systemic issues have extended shipbuilding schedules for years, while costs have skyrocketed.
Navy leaders identified many causes of shipbuilding failure. Changing requirements and changes to the structure after construction has begun result in significant cost increases. Weak supplier networks lack the capacity for continuous productivity growth. Continued delays at major shipyards such as Huntington Ingalls Industries continue despite management improvements. The sector is facing a vicious cycle: low demand reduces supplier investment, which in turn increases future production costs. Breaking this cycle requires continuous, massive orders like the Golden Fleet program.
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Counter to All Enemies, Call of American Rule
Trump dismissed reports that the Golden Fleet was targeting China as a major concern. He simply said that these warships serve as “everyone’s place.” Trump emphasized that his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping is complementary. He emphasized that the fleet faces a wide range of threats in many regions of the world, including the Middle East, the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific.
The announcement concludes a broad administration effort to prioritize shipbuilding and naval expansion. Trump’s executive order, the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act, authorizes more than $26 billion for naval construction. Congress also authorized $1.1 billion for the Maritime Administration to strengthen the defense industrial base.
Conclusion: History in the Making at Mar-a-Lago
For the first time in 30 years, the United States will build a modern warship built for the challenges of the 21st century. The ships are expected to include large fire fighters and advanced technology ranging from hypersonic missiles to electronic weapons. The Golden Fleet initiative addresses both a military need and an industrial problem at the same time. As China continues its aggressive naval expansion, defense planners and administrators have decided that the United States must act quickly. The Trump administration’s bold announcement may signal the beginning of a real renaissance in America’s military.
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