US President Donald Trump unveiled plans for a new series of heavily armed naval vessels that will bear his name, a departure from the tradition of naming ships after former leaders. The Trump-class ships, initially numbering two but potentially expanding, are set to become some of the most formidable surface warfare ships ever built in the US, with Trump touting them as the largest battleships in the nation’s history.
The announcement took place at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, with Trump joined by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Navy Secretary John Phelan. The president showcased images of the cutting-edge ships during the event. When asked if the new warships are a response to China, Trump avoided a direct answer, emphasizing that they are designed as a general deterrent.
The vessels are expected to weigh between 30,000 and 40,000 tons and will be equipped with a range of armaments including missiles, guns, laser technology, and hypersonic missiles. Trump also mentioned their potential to carry nuclear weapons in the form of sea-launched cruise missiles.
While larger than current US destroyers and cruisers, the projected size of the Trump-class ships falls slightly below that of the last American battleships, the Iowa class, retired in the 1990s. Trump expressed his personal involvement in the design process, citing his aesthetic sensibilities as a factor.
The announcement follows the Navy’s recent disclosure of plans for a different class of ships, the FF(X) frigates, intended to complement existing multi-mission warships. Navy Secretary Phelan revealed that the new frigates will be based on an established design by shipbuilder HII, currently utilized by the US Coast Guard. The goal is to have the first frigate operational by 2028.
This development comes after the cancellation of four Constellation-class frigates, with two under construction being reassessed. Concerns over the US Navy’s size relative to China’s naval expansion have been raised, prompting Trump to pledge a revival of American shipbuilding prowess. The president vowed to establish the US Navy as the most dominant fleet globally, with battleships leading the charge for years to come.