On 22 December 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to develop a new class of large surface warships, referred to as “Trump-class” vessels, as part of a broader vision for a revitalised U.S. Navy dubbed the “Golden Fleet.” The announcement, made at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, emphasised expanding naval capabilities amid competition with China and other global challengers.
Trump stated that the Navy would begin construction on two such ships initially, with ambitions to acquire up to 25 over time, according to live updates from The New York Times. He described the vessels as the “largest we’ve ever built” and significantly more powerful than previous warships. Navy Secretary John Phelan, speaking alongside Trump, noted that the ships would incorporate advanced systems, including nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles, as reported by Reuters and The New York Times.
Renderings displayed during the event showed a vessel named USS Defiant, presented as an example of the new class. Trump was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Phelan. The president highlighted the initiative’s potential to boost American shipbuilding and create jobs, while criticising the current fleet’s appearance in line with past comments.
The proposed warships are framed as upgrades or successors to existing platforms like the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which form the core of the U.S. surface fleet and cost over $2 billion each. Officials described them as next-generation surface combatants equipped with hypersonic missiles, railguns, high-powered lasers, and other cutting-edge technologies, per reports from Fox News and Reuters.
Historical context underscores the novelty of reviving the “battleship” designation. The U.S. Navy decommissioned its last Iowa-class battleships in the 1990s, shifting focus to aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, and submarines as missile and air power rendered heavily armoured big-gun ships obsolete post-World War II. The Associated Press noted that modern naval doctrine prioritises distributed lethality and unmanned systems over traditional capital ships.
Stakeholder positions reveal divergences. Trump and administration officials portrayed the plan as essential for projecting power and countering China’s larger fleet—currently over 370 ships compared to the U.S.’s approximately 294, as cited in Fox News coverage. However, retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, quoted in the Associated Press, expressed scepticism, arguing that large battleship-like vessels represent “exactly what we don’t need” given budgetary constraints and ongoing delays in programs like the Columbia-class submarine.
Analyses from secondary sources highlight institutional challenges. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has previously assessed U.S. shipbuilding capacity as strained, with industrial base issues limiting rapid expansion. Chatham House commentary on naval modernisation stresses the need for cost-effective, survivable platforms in an era of anti-access/area-denial threats, cautioning against symbolic investments. Brookings Institution reports note that while fleet size matters, technological edge and readiness are critical amid great-power competition.
No specific timelines, costs, or funding mechanisms were detailed in the announcement, which would require congressional approval and appropriation. The initiative follows recent Navy adjustments, including scrapping plans for certain smaller warships due to overruns.
The announcement coincides with heightened U.S. naval activity in the Caribbean, aimed at disrupting drug trafficking and pressuring Venezuela, though no direct linkage was stated.
Plausible trajectories include congressional debates over prioritisation, potential integration with existing destroyer programs, or scaling back ambitions due to fiscal realities. Uncertainty surrounds technical feasibility—railguns and high-energy lasers remain developmental—and strategic fit in peer conflicts where vulnerability to missiles and drones is a concern. The plan signals rhetorical emphasis on naval resurgence, even as operational capacity depends on navigating industrial, budgetary, and doctrinal constraints.
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Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.
