Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a new generation of US navy warships to be known as the “Trump-class”, marking a break with long-standing naval naming traditions.
Speaking on Monday, the US president said the vessels would be bigger, faster and “a hundred times more powerful” than any previous American warship. Construction is set to begin with two ships, with the programme eventually expanding to between 20 and 25 vessels.
The navy secretary, John Phelan, said the appearance of the Trump-class USS Defiant would signal inevitable American victory at sea. He described the planned ships as the largest and deadliest warships ever to sail.
US battleships have traditionally been named after states, but the decision to use Trump’s name has drawn criticism. Opponents say it reflects a broader pattern of self-branding by the president, whose name already appears on hotels, golf courses and other institutions.
Earlier this month, the administration renamed the US Institute of Peace in Washington after Trump. Last week, the Trump-appointed board of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted to rename it the Trump-Kennedy Center, despite the move requiring congressional approval.
Monday’s announcement was made at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where posters displayed proposed images of the USS Defiant. The designs showed a vast, heavily armed battleship bearing the Trump name.
Phelan said the new ships would echo the philosophy of the Iowa-class battleships of the second world war, which were built around overwhelming offensive firepower. He said the Trump-class would focus on striking enemies directly, rather than purely defensive operations.
The secretary added that the ships would be capable of commanding battle groups, including drones and other modern platforms. He said the aim was to restore American dominance at sea.
Battleships were once the backbone of naval power, particularly during the second world war, when Iowa-class ships displaced around 60,000 tonnes. Their role declined sharply after the war, as aircraft carriers and missile technology became central to naval strategy.
The US navy briefly modernised its remaining battleships in the 1980s by adding cruise missiles and advanced radar systems. All four Iowa-class ships were decommissioned by the 1990s.
Trump said the new “golden fleet” would be built in American shipyards and would feature hypersonic weapons, high-power lasers and nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles currently under development.
He said the programme would help restore the United States as a leading shipbuilding nation and ensure it maintained the world’s most powerful navy.
Traditionally, US presidents are honoured through the naming of aircraft carriers after they leave office. In January, the navy announced that two future carriers would be named the USS William J Clinton and the USS George W Bush.
