Trump Announces “Golden Fleet” US Battleships Named After Himself

On December 22, 2025, Donald Trump announced plans for a new class of large US Navy surface warships, referred to as “Trump-class” ships, during an event at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The announcement is notable because the ships are planned to be named after a sitting US president, an honour usually reserved for leaders after they leave office.

According to the announcement, the proposed vessels would displace 30,000–40,000 tonnes, making them larger than existing US destroyers and cruisers but smaller than the retired Iowa-class battleships. The ships are claimed to carry conventional weapons along with systems under development, including hypersonic missiles, lasers, railguns, and nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles.

The plan currently mentions two initial ships, with the possibility of expansion later. No funding approvals, shipyard contracts, or final designs have been announced, and timelines remain tentative.