On Monday, President Donald Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan announced a new series of so-called “Trump Class” battleships, a new initiative to revamp and rebuild the maritime industry and strengthen America's maritime dominance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also in the Oval Office and gave a speech.
A new class of large surface combatants for the Navy: the battleship.
The deadliest surface combatant ever created. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/7AH5G4IJj5
— White House (@WhiteHouse) December 22, 2025
The President was surrounded by images of the Golden Fleet's first battleship, the USS Defiant. Trump began his speech by endorsing the Navy's plan to begin building these new battleships.
…very big, the biggest battleships we've ever built,” Trump said. “You know, we used to build the Iowa, the Missouri, the Wisconsin, the Alabama and many others. We had big warships. They are larger, but their strength and power will be 100 times greater. There has never been anything like these ships. They have been in the design stage for a long time.
[…]
These are the best in the world, they will be the fastest, the largest and 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built.
LOOK:
🚨 @POTHUS: As Commander in Chief, I am honored to announce that I have approved the Navy's plan to begin construction of two brand new, very large battleships… They will be the fastest, largest, and certainly 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built. pic.twitter.com/226O1UxOeS
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 22, 2025
Part of Trump's efforts to restore and consolidate dominance in the Navy is as much about national security as it is about economic power. Trump said, “The construction will create thousands of jobs in America” and will also encourage corporations to revive the naval shipyards of past decades. Trump said it was “a tragedy that we allowed this incredible ability to go astray.”
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.@POTHUS: “We are going to restore America as a major shipbuilding nation. We are going to make sure that the US Navy is the most powerful fleet in the world.” pic.twitter.com/78cfeWA4F8
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 22, 2025
Trump also announced that the Navy will increase the number of aircraft carriers and move to a different class of aircraft carriers. Plans outlined are to start with two battleships, the first of which will be the USS Defiant, and expand to a series of 10 battleships.
Trump congratulated Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, who understood, organized and implemented this vision. Trump hailed the fact that drug trafficking at sea “has dropped by 92.6 percent. We will soon begin the same program on land.
Trump then asked Secretary of War Hegseth to make some comments.
Hegseth began:
Mr. President, you are absolutely right, there are no fishing rods, no fishermen, no fishing boats here. Only drug dealers and narco-terrorists, and with every strike we save American lives. No other president has been willing to implement true deterrence, and that is exactly what is happening.
It's an honor to be here, Mr. President, Mr. Secretary, Secretary Rubio, and talk about what Peace through Strength really looks like. You can talk about it, or you can invest in it and build it. And that's exactly what President Trump is doing.
Hegseth spoke of the success of the War Department's goals of restoring the warrior spirit, rebuilding the military, including recruiting, and restoring deterrence. Hegseth declared, “American power has returned to the world stage.”
And the announcement of the Golden Fleet, anchored by new battleships that are the largest and deadliest in history, accomplishes all three and marks a generational commitment to American sea power.
Hegseth said this is happening in all areas, including space.
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.@Secwar: “This new class, this new investment, will be the things that for decades… the American people will look back on and be grateful for.” @POTHUS for having the vision and willingness to invest now in the capabilities we need…” https://t.co/TiZhdRbIej pic.twitter.com/4ltpjIlBRF
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 22, 2025
This new class, these new investments, will be the things that for decades, centuries to come, the American people will look back and thank President Trump for his vision and willingness to invest now in the opportunities we need today, tomorrow and far into the future. So, Mr. President, thank you for this investment.
Secretary of State Phelan took the podium and stated that “A very important day.”
Phelan said he has spoken extensively with Navy combatant leaders and shared what he has learned.
I learned that the President's idea was not only a good one, but it was something the Navy desperately needed, and now they had an official need for it. The future Trump-class battleship, USS Defiant, will be the largest, deadliest, most versatile and most beautiful warship on the world's oceans.
I want to thank the President for his vision to create such a transformative capability for the U.S. Navy.
IOWA was created to go on the offensive with the most powerful weapons. And this is exactly what will define the Trump-class battleships. The offensive firepower of the greatest weapons of our era. This ship doesn't just deflect arrows, it's going to reach out and kill the archers.
Now this new battleship will control everything from warships to drones and everything in between. We're going to make fireteams great again.
Logistics wins the war, and this kind of shipbuilding is the spark that will ignite the industrial base and help the commercial shipbuilding development that the President has called for.
Phelan spoke about rebuilding the Navy's shipyards and shipbuilding industry.
LOOK:
.@SECNAV: “Our adversaries will know that when the Trump-class USS Defiant appears on the horizon, American victory at sea is certain.” https://t.co/TiZhdRbIej pic.twitter.com/xtldHiaG8G
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 22, 2025
The President has made it clear: We must take back our American maritime industrial power.
The battleship USS Defiant will command awe and respect for the American flag whenever she calls at a foreign port. It will be a source of pride for every American to bring home our brave sailors who will sail on the Defiant, raise their fists and say, “We are peace through strength.” And our adversaries will know that when the Trump-class USS Defiant appears on the horizon, American victory at sea is inevitable.
Thank you Mr. President. Now, when a conflict arises, you will ask not one, but two questions: Where are the carriers? Where are the battleships?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded with these brief remarks.
This is a phenomenal presentation. Thank you Mr. President. This is the return of American industrial power. This is an opportunity to reinvent ourselves once again, to have industry in the United States. This is a change of generations. Not just in terms of applying American military power and increasing our ability to defend the seas. The US Navy is the single largest source of peace among all our forces because it gives us a global presence. But he is restoring American industrial strength. The opportunity to succeed again in our country has played a critical role in the President's agenda, and this is a tangible reminder of that. I know the country is grateful for this, and generations of Americans will be grateful for this.
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.@SecRubio: “This is the return of American industrial power… it's generational.” https://t.co/TiZhdRbIej pic.twitter.com/MPXfDwMDY1
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 22, 2025
President Trump answered questions, including one regarding the schedule. Trump said construction would begin immediately and the Navy expects two years before the USS Defiant is built.
Editor's note: Thanks to President Trump and the courageous leadership of his administration, we are respected on the world stage and our enemies are being highlighted.
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