Donald Trump announced ambitious plans for the United States Navy to construct a new fleet of warships known as “Trump-class” during an event at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. This new initiative will help restore America’s naval shipbuilding advantage and military superiority.
The centerpiece of this new class will be the USS Defiant, which Trump described as “the largest, deadliest, and most versatile warship anywhere on the world’s oceans.” The Trump-class battleships will be both larger and more heavily armed than those that preceded them. This is because it’s a significant jump ahead in naval hi-tech.
For example, on the campaign trail, Trump promised that construction would begin with the building of two Trump-class battleships. For starters, he plans to increase the fleet to 20-25 vessels over the next few years to accommodate growing demand. He emphasized the importance of this undertaking, stating, “We’re going to restore America as a major shipbuilding power. We’re going to ensure the USA is the most powerful fleet anywhere in the world.”
In a statement, Navy Secretary John Phelan summarized the importance of the USS Defiant and its role in history. He pointed to the Iowa-class battleships of World War II. These behemoth palaces of the deep weighed in at up to 60,000 tons, but he personally called the new Trump-class vessels as having “the largest artillery ever made.”
At that announcement, a concept drawing of the Defiant was shared, showing a ship born for war and a true weapon of peace. Phelan pointed out that the behemoth battleship will serve each purpose beyond protecting Americans from attack. It will have offensive capabilities specifically tailored to decisively eliminate threats. He stated, “This ship isn’t just to swat the arrows. It is going to reach out and kill the archers.”
The powerful technology of the Trump-class battleships along with their superior, unmatched firepower will change naval warfare as we know it. They should be intended to represent the shape of American power and determination on the global oceans. Phelan emphasized the strategic importance of these vessels, asserting that “Our adversaries will know, when the Trump-class USS Defiant appears on the horizon, American victory at sea is inevitable.”
Former president Donald Trump emphasized the economic impact of this project too. But he was firm that construction would be carried out at home, in partnership with American shipyards. “We’re building them here. We’re working with others but we’re building them here. We have great navy yards,” he remarked during the announcement.
The Trump-class dreadnoughts represent a sea change in the American industrial base. They are a crucial component of a wider strategy to reestablish U.S. naval supremacy. These ships are designed for offensive firepower and advanced engineering. Their motivation is to ensure that the U.S. continues to be known as a great naval power.