Trump Unveils Plans for New 'Trump-class' US Navy Battleships
On December 22, 2025, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, former President Trump announced plans to build a new generation of U.S. Navy battleships, which will be named the "Trump-class." The initiative will start with two ships and could potentially expand to between 20 and 25 vessels. The lead vessel will be designated as the USS Defiant.
These new battleships are advertised as bigger, faster, and 100 times more powerful than any previous warships built in the United States. They will be equipped with advanced technologies including hypersonic weapons, high-power lasers, and nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles that are currently under development.
Navy Secretary John Phelan described the USS Defiant as the largest, deadliest, and most versatile warship, noting that it will command drones and other ships. The project aims to restore U.S. naval dominance and resecuritize the nation as a major shipbuilding power.
Trump emphasized that the ships would be built in U.S. shipyards, with collaboration from others, but production will occur domestically. This plan marks the start of a new class of battleships intended to reassert the United States' naval strength and shipbuilding capabilities.
