Trump unveils ‘Golden Fleet’ Navy battleships with hypersonic weapons and lasers

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Monday, December 22, announced plans for a new class of US Navy battleships, informally dubbed the “Trump Class,” unveiling what he described as a next-generation warfighting vessel meant to replace an aging fleet and reinforce American naval dominance.

Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago library in Florida, Trump said the ships would anchor a broader naval modernization effort he branded the “Golden Fleet.”

The president framed the initiative as both a military upgrade and an industrial revival, arguing that the new battleships would strengthen US deterrence, counter China and other adversaries, and reinvigorate domestic shipbuilding. While Trump did not use the term “Trump Class” directly in his remarks, it has been widely used to describe the proposed category of vessels.

Trump outlines vision for new US Navy battleships

Trump said the new battleships would be the largest ever built by the US Navy, with each vessel weighing between 30,000 and 40,000 tons and constructed entirely in the United States.

“They’ll help maintain American military supremacy, revive the American shipbuilding industry, and inspire fear in America’s enemies all over the world,” Trump said.

He added that he planned to be personally involved in the design process alongside Navy officials.

“The US Navy will lead the design of these ships along with me because I’m a very aesthetic person,” Trump said, drawing laughter from the audience.

According to Trump, the vessels would be equipped with advanced weapons systems, including hypersonic missiles, electric rail guns, cruise missiles, and what he described as “the most sophisticated lasers in the world.”

“You aim the laser at a target, it just wipes it out,” Trump said. “They’ll be the most sophisticated lasers in the world, and they’ll be on the battleships.”

Trump also said the ships would be “very AI controlled,” though he did not provide technical details or timelines for deployment.

‘Golden Fleet’ plan detailed as production and expansion strategy

Trump said the new battleships would form the backbone of the “Golden Fleet,” a long-term effort to modernize US maritime power.

“We envision that these ships will be the first of a whole new class of ships to be produced in the years to come,” he said. 

Under the initial plan, the Navy would build two of the new battleships, followed by eight additional vessels. Trump said he ultimately envisioned a fleet of 20 to 25 ships, which he described as becoming the “flagship of the American naval fleet.”

He also said updates to US aircraft carriers would be pursued as part of the same modernization strategy.

Trump has previously criticized the appearance of some US naval vessels, arguing that stealth design should not come at the expense of aesthetics.

“I’m not a fan of some of the ships you do. I’m a very aesthetic person, and I don’t like some of the ships you’re doing aesthetically,” Trump told military leaders earlier this year. “An ugly ship is not necessary in order to say you’re stealth.”

While naming conventions remain uncertain, a ship class is traditionally named after its first completed vessel. That could eventually lead to a ship bearing Trump’s name, depending on Navy protocol. However, posters displayed during Monday’s event showed a vessel labeled the USS Defiant rather than the USS Trump.