Former US President Donald Trump has announced ambitious plans for a new generation of American warships, to be named the "Trump-class," during an event at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
The Vision for a 'Golden Fleet'
Speaking on Monday, Trump declared that the proposed vessels would form part of a 'Golden Fleet' and would be bigger, faster, and a hundred times more powerful than any previous US-built warship. The project is slated to begin with the construction of two such battleships, with an eventual goal of expanding the fleet to between 20 and 25 new vessels.
Navy Secretary John Phelan, who appeared alongside Trump, offered a vivid description of the fleet's intended impact. "Our adversaries will know, when the Trump-class USS Defiant appears on the horizon, American victory at sea is inevitable," he stated.
Breaking with Tradition and Stirring Controversy
The move marks a significant departure from naval tradition, where battleship classes are typically named after US states. Critics have been quick to label the announcement as part of a wider pattern of narcissism from the former president. This follows recent actions by his administration, including renaming the US Institute of Peace in Washington after him and a Trump-appointed board voting to add his name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
At the Mar-a-Lago announcement, three posters displayed concept renderings of the lead ship, the USS Defiant. Secretary Phelan elaborated on its capabilities, claiming it would be "the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world's oceans." He drew a direct comparison to the legendary Iowa-class battleships of the Second World War, emphasising offensive firepower. "This ship isn't just to swat the arrows. It is going to reach out and kill the archers," he said, echoing a phrase from the 1950s series Victory at Sea.
Technical Ambitions and Historical Context
Trump outlined that the new fleet would be equipped with cutting-edge weaponry, including hypersonic weapons, high-power lasers, and nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles currently in development. "We're going to restore America as a major shipbuilding power," he asserted, vowing to build the ships domestically in US navy yards.
The announcement revives the concept of the battleship, a type of warship whose prominence faded after the Second World War in favour of aircraft carriers and missile technology. The last US battleships, the modernised Iowa-class, were decommissioned in the 1990s. The proposed Trump-class would represent a substantial modern return to heavily armed surface combatants.
This stands in contrast to the more common practice of honouring former presidents by naming aircraft carriers after them. Earlier this year, the US Navy confirmed two future carriers would be named the USS William J Clinton and the USS George W Bush.
