U.S. President Donald Trump has unexpectedly unveiled plans for a new class of warships that will carry his own surname. The announcement was made during a press conference at his private Mar-a-Lago estate, at a time of rising international tensions and shortly after the approval of a massive U.S. defense budget. The new “Trump” class is expected to include vessels significantly larger than the destroyers and cruisers currently in service with the U.S. Navy.
According to the president, the ships would have an estimated displacement of between 30,000 and 40,000 tons, placing them well above modern combat ships but still below the size of the historic Iowa-class battleships, which were retired in the 1990s. Trump said the warships would be equipped with advanced gun and missile systems, while also providing space for weapons technologies still under development, including laser and hypersonic weapons.
He added that the platforms could also be adapted to carry sea-based cruise missiles with nuclear capability, significantly expanding their strategic role. Initially, two ships of the new class are expected to be built, with an estimated construction time of around two and a half years. In a second phase, the plan envisions a rapid expansion to ten vessels, with a long-term goal of deploying between 20 and 25 ships.
Trump described the project as creating “the largest warships in the history of our country,” and even suggested they would be unmatched worldwide. Senior officials were present at the announcement, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, underscoring the official nature of the presentation.
Trump also stated that he intends to be personally involved in the design process, citing his “strong sense of aesthetics” and recalling his past criticism of modern U.S. warship designs. The announcement comes amid intensifying global strategic competition, particularly in naval power. China has significantly expanded its navy in recent years and has recently commissioned its third aircraft carrier.
However, Trump stressed that the development of the new warship class is not aimed at China, insisting that relations with Beijing remain positive. The unveiling of the “Trump” class follows the recent approval of a defense budget exceeding $900 billion, suggesting that the initiative forms part of a broader effort to strengthen U.S. military power. Whether these ambitious plans will translate into concrete projects, and how they will be received within the Navy and across the international security landscape, remains to be seen.
