President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States plans to begin construction on two new battleships for the U.S. Navy, describing them as the largest battleships ever built and positioning them as the first step in what he called a broader naval expansion. The announcement was made at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, alongside Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of the Navy John Phalen. Trump said the vessels will be part of a forthcoming naval initiative he referred to as the “Golden Fleet” and will be built domestically.
“As commander-in-chief, it’s my great honor to announce that I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin the construction of two brand new, very large–the largest we’ve ever built–battleships,” Trump said. He described the ships as significantly more capable than past designs, adding, “We had big battleships. These are bigger… They’ll be 100 times the force, the power, and there’s never been anything like these ships.” Trump noted that the concept for the vessels dates back to his first term, saying the ships “have been under design consideration for a long time, and it started with me in my first term.”
The United States has not completed construction of a new battleship since the Iowa-class USS Missouri in 1944. That ship, which played a central role in World War II and later conflicts, was decommissioned in 1992. Trump referenced that legacy during his remarks, emphasizing the historical role battleships have played in American military power. “From Theodore Roosevelt, the great white fleet…to the legendary USS Missouri, whose massive guns helped win World War II, America’s battleships have always been unmistakable symbols of national power,” he said.
According to Trump, the new battleships will incorporate advanced weapons systems and emerging technologies. He stated that they will be armed with the “highest level” guns and missiles and will feature “many hypersonic weapons, state-of-the-art electric rail guns, and even the high-powered lasers that you’ve been starting to read about.” He also said the ships will be capable of carrying nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles that are currently under development. “They’ll also carry the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles currently under development, which will be instituted pretty quickly, but they’re under development, and they’ve proven to be extremely lethal,” Trump added.
A rendering displayed during the announcement showed one of the ships bearing the name “USS Defiant.” Trump said the Navy, working with his direct involvement, will oversee the design process, noting that he intends to play a hands-on role. He emphasized that all construction would take place in the United States, a point that ties the project to domestic shipbuilding capacity and the industrial base that supports the Navy.
Trump indicated that the two ships announced Monday are intended to be the first in a larger program. He said the effort could eventually expand to include eight additional battleships, with the possibility of a total fleet of 20 to 25 ships, depending on future determinations. “We envision that these ships will be the first of a whole new class of battleships to be produced in the years to come,” he said, suggesting a long-term shift in naval planning.
The announcement comes as U.S. defense planners continue to assess global security conditions, the readiness of the armed forces, and the long-term requirements of naval power. Battleships, once the centerpiece of naval warfare, have largely been replaced by aircraft carriers, submarines, and guided-missile destroyers, making the proposal notable within the context of modern military strategy. The scope, cost, and timeline of the project were not detailed during the announcement, and no formal contracts or construction schedules were disclosed.
