Trump announces ambitious plan for new Navy ‘battleship’

President Donald Trump on Monday announced an ambitious plan for the US Navy to build a new, large warship that he described as a “battleship,” framing it as part of a broader vision to create what he called a “Golden Fleet.”

Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump claimed the vessel would surpass any battleship ever built. “They’ll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built,” he said.

According to Trump, the ship would be larger than the World War II-era Iowa-class battleships and equipped with hypersonic missiles, rail guns and high-powered lasers — technologies that are still under development within the Navy.

The announcement comes as the Navy has struggled to deliver new shipbuilding programs on time and within budget. Just last month, the service abandoned plans for a new small warship after delays and cost overruns, opting instead for a modified Coast Guard cutter design. Other major programs, including the Ford-class aircraft carriers and Columbia-class submarines, have also faced schedule and cost challenges.

Traditionally, a battleship refers to a heavily armored, gun-armed capital ship designed for ship-to-ship combat and shore bombardment — a role that peaked during World War II. The largest US battleships, the Iowa class, displaced about 60,000 tons.

In the decades following the war, battleships were eclipsed by aircraft carriers and missile-armed vessels. Although the Navy modernized the Iowa-class ships in the 1980s with cruise missiles, advanced radars and anti-ship weapons, all four were decommissioned by the 1990s.

Trump has long expressed strong views on the Navy’s fleet, often favoring older concepts or personally intervening in design decisions. During his first term, he pushed unsuccessfully to retain steam-powered catapults on aircraft carriers instead of the newer electromagnetic launch system.

He has also criticized the appearance and upkeep of Navy ships. Navy Secretary nominee John Phelan told senators at his confirmation hearing that Trump has frequently sent late-night messages complaining about “rusty ships” or vessels sitting in shipyards.

During a 2020 visit to a shipyard building the now-canceled Constellation-class frigate, Trump said he personally altered the ship’s design. “I looked at it, I said, ‘That’s a terrible-looking ship, let’s make it beautiful,’” he said at the time.

Trump said Monday that he intends to take a hands-on role in designing the proposed new warship as well. “The US Navy will lead the design of these ships along with me,” he said, adding, “because I’m a very aesthetic person.”