In a move that breaks with naval tradition, former President Donald Trump has announced ambitious plans for a new generation of American warships to be named the 'Trump-class'. The revelation was made at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday.
A New Era of Naval Power
Trump declared that the proposed vessels, part of what he termed the 'Golden Fleet', would be 'bigger, faster and a hundred times more powerful' than any previous US-built warship. The initial phase of the project will see the construction of two battleships, with an eventual goal of expanding the fleet to between 20 and 25 new vessels.
Navy Secretary John Phelan, standing alongside Trump, offered a stark warning to adversaries. 'Our adversaries will know, when the Trump-class USS Defiant appears on the horizon, American victory at sea is inevitable,' he stated. Phelan further described the lead ship, the USS Defiant, as destined to be the 'largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world’s oceans.'
Breaking with Convention and Historical Echoes
The decision to name a ship class after a living former president is highly unconventional. Historically, US battleship classes have been named after states. The announcement follows a series of renamings by the Trump administration, including the US Institute of Peace and a proposed change to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which critics have labelled narcissistic.
The announcement was visually supported by concept renderings on easels at Mar-a-Lago, showcasing the proposed USS Defiant. Both Trump and Secretary Phelan approvingly referenced the 1950s television series 'Victory at Sea', which documented naval combat in the Second World War. Phelan evoked the spirit of the iconic Iowa-class battleships, stating the new class would be defined by 'offensive firepower from the biggest guns of our era.'
Technological Ambitions and Industrial Revival
Trump outlined a vision for a fleet equipped with cutting-edge technology, including hypersonic weapons, high-power lasers, and new nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles. 'We’re going to restore America as a major shipbuilding power,' he asserted, promising to negotiate with domestic companies and utilise US navy yards to ensure construction happens on home soil.
This push for a new battleship class marks a potential strategic shift. The role of the traditional heavily-armoured battleship declined after WWII in favour of aircraft carriers and missiles. The US Navy's last active battleships, the modernised Iowa-class, were decommissioned in the 1990s. The proposed Trump-class would seek to reintroduce a dominant surface combatant for the 21st century.
The announcement stands in contrast to the more customary practice of honouring former presidents with aircraft carriers. Earlier this year, the Navy confirmed two future carriers would be named after Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
