Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an ambitious proposal for the United States Navy to construct a new class of large warship, which he describes as a modern “battleship,” as part of a broader vision he calls the Golden Fleet.
Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump said the vessels would represent a dramatic leap in naval power. “They’ll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built,” he claimed, adding that the first ship would be named USS Defiant.
According to details outlined during the announcement, the proposed warship would be larger and longer than the World War II–era Iowa-class battleships and would be equipped with advanced weapons systems, including hypersonic missiles, nuclear-capable cruise missiles, electromagnetic rail guns, and high-powered lasers. Many of these technologies, however, are still under development or have faced significant challenges within the Navy.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of recent difficulties in U.S. naval shipbuilding. Just a month earlier, the Navy canceled plans for a new small warship after repeated delays and cost overruns, opting instead for a modified Coast Guard cutter design. Other major programs, such as the Ford-class aircraft carrier and Columbia-class submarines, have also struggled to stay on schedule and within budget.
Several of the technologies Trump cited have had mixed success. The Navy spent more than 15 years and hundreds of millions of dollars attempting to deploy a rail gun aboard ships before abandoning the effort in 2021. Laser weapons have seen more progress, with systems designed to disable drone sensors now installed on a limited number of destroyers after years of testing. Experts have also warned that deploying nuclear cruise missiles at sea could raise serious questions about compliance with international non-proliferation agreements.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss early-stage planning, said design work on the new ship is underway, with construction tentatively expected to begin in the early 2030s.
Trump and Navy Secretary John Phelan have both framed the proposed Trump-class warship as a spiritual successor to the battleships that dominated naval warfare in the mid-20th century. Historically, battleships were heavily armored vessels armed with massive guns for ship-to-ship combat and shore bombardment, a role that declined rapidly after World War II with the rise of aircraft carriers and missile-based warfare.
Information published on a newly launched Golden Fleet website suggests the new “guided missile battleship” would be roughly comparable in size to the Iowa-class ships but significantly lighter, at about 35,000 tons, and operated by a smaller crew of between 650 and 850 sailors. Unlike traditional battleships, its primary armament would be missiles rather than large-caliber naval guns.
Trump has long expressed strong personal views on naval design and modernization. During his first term, he criticized the Navy’s shift to electromagnetic aircraft launch systems and publicly objected to what he described as the unattractive appearance and rusting of U.S. warships. Phelan told senators during his confirmation hearing that Trump frequently contacted him late at night with concerns about ship maintenance and design.
Trump has also said he intends to play a hands-on role in shaping the new vessel. “The U.S. Navy will lead the design of these ships along with me, because I’m a very aesthetic person,” he said. Phelan echoed the sentiment, stating that the USS Defiant would be designed to “inspire awe and reverence for the American flag whenever it pulls into a foreign port.”
