Trump announces Trump-class battleship as flagship of new U.S. Navy fleet

U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a new Trump-class battleship, positioning it as the future flagship of what he calls a “new golden fleet” for the U.S. Navy. The administration intends to order the ships in large numbers and push defense contractors to accelerate delivery.

 

Speaking at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump described the vessels as unmatched in scale and firepower. He said the Trump-class would be faster, larger, and significantly more powerful than any surface combatant previously built for the Navy.

 

The White House later reinforced the message, calling the project “the most lethal surface combatant ever constructed.” Concept images suggest a heavily armed design, featuring multiple forward-mounted cannons rather than the single gun typically seen on modern U.S. warships. One illustration also shows a large portrait of Trump painted on the ship’s superstructure near the helicopter hangar.

 

Technical details obtained by USNI point to a very large warship. The proposed vessel would measure close to 900 feet in length, displace around 35,000 tonnes, and carry a crew of up to 850 sailors. The armament package reportedly includes two 300-kilowatt laser systems, a railgun, two five-inch naval guns, 128 vertical launch system cells, and 12 larger launchers for Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missiles. Trump also said the ship would carry the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCMN), a capability expected to enter service in the mid-2030s.

 

The administration aims to build as many as 25 Trump-class warships, a plan that would place heavy pressure on an already strained U.S. shipbuilding sector. Trump confirmed that talks with defense contractors are planned in Florida, with a focus on shortening construction timelines for major surface combatants.

 

U.S. naval shipbuilding programs currently face widespread delays. Fincantieri Marinette Marine, which recently lost the Constellation-class frigate program due to cost overruns and schedule issues, has available capacity but lacks the size needed to build a battleship. Huntington Ingalls Industries, selected for the next-generation frigate, already operates with a full order book.

 

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works remains the only U.S. yard with experience and infrastructure close to battleship scale, but it also struggles with delayed Arleigh Burke-class destroyer deliveries. Both major builders face the same structural problems: a shortage of skilled labor and ongoing disruptions across the shipbuilding supply chain.

 

Alternative options could include Hanwha Philly Shipyard, which has suitable drydock space but limited experience with complex surface combatants, or the creation of a new or reactivated naval yard. Another possibility is foreign construction. South Korea has openly promoted offshore production and wants its “Big Three” shipbuilders to compete for future U.S. Navy contracts.

 

Source: Maritime Executive

Picture: Alex Brandon / AP