Florida:
US President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled plans for a new class of heavily armed US Navy warships that will bear his name — a rare move typically reserved for American leaders after they have left office.
Dubbed the “Trump-class”, the warships are being pitched as the most powerful surface combat vessels ever built by the United States. Trump said two ships will initially be constructed, but indicated that the number could increase significantly in the coming years.
Navy's new class of Large Surface Combatants: THE BATTLESHIP.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 22, 2025
The most lethal surface combatant ever constructed. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/7AH5G4IJj5
“These will be some of the most lethal surface warfare ships ever made,” Trump said while announcing the project at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. “They will be the largest battleships in the history of our country.”
The announcement was made alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Navy Secretary John Phelan, with display images of the futuristic vessels showcased nearby.
Size, firepower and advanced weapons
According to Trump, the Trump-class warships will displace between 30,000 and 40,000 tonnes, making them substantially larger than current US destroyers and cruisers. The ships will be equipped with advanced missile systems, heavy guns, and next-generation weapons, including lasers and hypersonic missiles.
“They’ll also carry nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles that are currently under development,” Trump said.
While the proposed ships would be massive by modern standards, their projected displacement is still smaller than the Iowa-class battleships, the last US battleships, which were retired in the 1990s.
Push to revive US shipbuilding amid China challenge
Trump’s announcement comes amid growing concern in Washington over China’s rapid naval expansion. A recent report to Congress warned that the US Navy has fallen well behind Beijing in terms of fleet size, intensifying pressure on the Pentagon to accelerate shipbuilding.
“We’re going to restore America as a major shipbuilding power,” Trump said. “We’re going to ensure the United States has the most powerful fleet anywhere in the world — now and long into the future.”
Part of broader naval overhaul
The Trump-class announcement follows recent Navy disclosures about another new class of vessels — FF(X) frigates — designed to complement larger multi-mission warships. Navy Secretary John Phelan has said the frigates will be based on an existing design already used by the US Coast Guard, with the first ship expected to enter service by 2028.
The new frigate programme was revealed after the Navy confirmed that four of six planned Constellation-class frigates would be cancelled, while two already under construction remain under review.
Unusual naming draws attention
The decision to name the new warship class after a sitting president is highly unusual, as US naval tradition generally reserves such honours for leaders who have completed their terms. While Trump did not address the break from convention, the move has already sparked debate among military historians and political observers.