Trump Unveils Trump-Class Battleship Plan for New U.S. Navy Fleet
According to NextShip, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to develop a new Trump-class battleship, which he described as the future flagship of a renewed U.S. Navy fleet. The administration is considering large-scale orders and aims to accelerate construction timelines.
Speaking at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said the new class would surpass all existing surface combatants in size, speed, and combat power. The White House later echoed these claims, calling the project the most powerful surface warship ever proposed for the U.S. Navy.
Preliminary details suggest a very large vessel, nearly 900 feet long with a displacement of about 35,000 tonnes and a crew of up to 850 sailors. The reported weapons package includes lasers, a railgun, multiple naval guns, vertical launch systems for missiles, hypersonic strike capability, and the future nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCMN), expected to enter service in the mid-2030s.
The administration is reportedly considering the construction of up to 25 Trump-class warships, a plan that would place significant pressure on the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Most American naval programs already face delays, driven by labor shortages and supply chain constraints.
Only a limited number of U.S. shipyards have the capacity to build ships of this scale. Alternatives under discussion include upgrading existing yards or turning to foreign partners. South Korea has publicly expressed interest in having its major shipbuilders compete for future U.S. Navy contracts.
