Trump Announces Plans to Introduce New Battleships
Speaking at Mar-a-Lago during what the White House labeled a “major announcement,” Trump said he had signed off on an initial order of two ships, with a long-term goal of building up to 25. He appeared alongside Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.
The proposed ships — dubbed “Trump-class” battleships — would surpass the World War II-era Iowa-class in size and capability, according to Trump. He said the vessels would feature hypersonic missiles, rail guns, and laser weapons. The Wall Street Journal, which first disclosed the proposal, reported that the Navy is targeting 2030 for procurement of the first ship.
“As you know, we’re desperately in need of ships,” Trump said. “They’ll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built.”
Officials framed the plan as part of a sweeping naval buildup that includes both crewed and autonomous vessels, as Washington warns it is falling behind China in shipbuilding volume. Asked whether the new battleships were designed specifically to counter Beijing, Trump avoided naming a single adversary. “It’s a counter to everybody,” he said.
The announcement coincides with intensified US naval operations abroad. In the Caribbean, the US Coast Guard has increased enforcement actions against oil tankers tied to Venezuela. Since September, US Navy ships have been deployed to interdict vessels the White House claims are linked to drug trafficking and to halt oil exports. Caracas has denied the allegations, accusing Washington of seeking regime change to seize Venezuelan resources.
US forces have also maintained a heavy presence in the Red Sea, responding to attacks on commercial shipping connected to ongoing regional conflicts.
Separately, the Navy last week revealed plans for another class of ships modeled on the US Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutter. Chief of Naval Operations Daryl Caudle cited mounting operational pressure as the rationale.
“Recent operations from the Red Sea to the Caribbean make the requirement undeniable - our small surface combatant inventory is a third of what we have,” Caudle said. “We need more capable blue water small combatants to close the gap and keep our [destroyers] focused on the high-end fight,” he added.
The Navy has recently scrapped a smaller warship program due to delays and cost overruns and continues to grapple with technical and budget challenges affecting its Ford-class aircraft carriers and Columbia-class submarines.
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