President Donald Trump has announced that the US will commission a new series of heavily armed Navy 'battleships' named after himself, as part of a revamped 'Golden Fleet'.
Construction on the Trump Class USS Defiant ships, which will be equipped to carry an array of weapons, is expected to begin soon, with Trump saying they will be operational in two-and-a-half years.
The announcement is part of a larger planned expansion of the US Navy by President Trump in both manned and unmanned vessels, including larger missile-armed warships and smaller vessels.
Officials have warned that the US currently lags behind China in both shipbuilding capacity and total output.
Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida alongside defense secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, Trump said he approved the construction of two new battleships initially, with plans to eventually build up to 25.
They'll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built, Trump stated.
Once completed, Trump mentioned these vessels would be equipped to carry hypersonic and 'extremely lethal' weapons, making them the flagships of the US Navy.
In a recent interview, Secretary Phelan confirmed the vision for a 'big, beautiful' battleship vessel as part of the fleet, which will also feature various support and transport vessels.
Amid growing tensions, particularly with China and Venezuela, Trump's initiative underscores a shift towards enhancing the US naval presence and capabilities strategically.
The president's announcement also highlights the need to revive the US shipbuilding industry, as competition intensifies on the global stage.
