TRUMP UNLEASHES Historic Battleship Comeback Plan

President Trump’s revolutionary Golden Fleet initiative promises to restore American naval supremacy with the first new battleships since World War II, directly challenging China’s maritime aggression while revitalizing our forgotten shipbuilding industry.

Story Highlights

Trump announces first new battleship class since WWII with USS Defiant leading 25-ship Golden Fleet
Revolutionary “barbell strategy” combines massive battleships with unmanned Golden Swarm vessels
Initiative directly counters China’s anti-access capabilities threatening American freedom of navigation
Plan includes re-shoring shipbuilding capacity with advanced manufacturing and American jobs

Trump’s Bold Naval Revolution

President Trump announced the Golden Fleet initiative on December 22, 2025, marking the most significant naval strategy shift since the Cold War. The plan centers on constructing Trump-class battleships, designated BBG(X), beginning with USS Defiant (BBG-1). This represents a complete departure from decades of carrier-centric naval doctrine that left America vulnerable to emerging threats. The initiative directly addresses China’s expanding maritime capabilities while restoring American shipbuilding dominance through re-shored manufacturing and advanced production techniques.

Addressing China’s Maritime Threat

The Golden Fleet concept emerged after Trump’s September 2025 Quantico speech, where he initially proposed reactivating World War II battleships. When Navy officials confirmed all existing battleships were museum pieces, the administration pivoted to designing entirely new vessels. This strategic shift recognizes that China’s anti-access/area denial capabilities have fundamentally altered naval warfare dynamics. Admiral Samuel Paparo’s Indo-Pacific Command has been developing distributed warfare concepts like “Hellscape,” directly supporting the Golden Fleet’s manned-unmanned teaming approach to counter Chinese aggression.

Revolutionary Battleship Capabilities

The new Trump-class battleships will feature large missile vertical launch systems for hypersonic strike capability, directed energy weapons, conventional guns, and nuclear-armed cruise missiles. These vessels will be the largest U.S. surface combatants since World War II, capable of operating independently or commanding surface action groups. The “barbell strategy” combines these powerful battleships with the Golden Swarm—numerous small, low-cost unmanned vessels providing reconnaissance and force multiplication. This approach moves beyond the outdated 355-ship goal toward 280-300 crewed vessels supplemented by unmanned systems.

Construction plans call for initially building 2 ships, expanding to 10, with eventual goals of 20-25 vessels. Hanwha Philly Shipyard serves as the primary contractor, while international partnerships with allied shipbuilders like Fincantieri and Naval Group will accelerate production of smaller corvette variants. The Navy is preparing funding requests by Fiscal Year 2027, requiring congressional approval for this vital national security investment.

Restoring American Manufacturing Strength

Beyond naval capabilities, the Golden Fleet initiative revitalizes American industrial capacity through re-shoring shipbuilding operations, introducing robotic factories, and implementing 3D printing at scale. This addresses chronic labor shortages in American shipyards while creating high-paying manufacturing jobs. The initiative represents a fundamental rejection of globalist policies that shipped our defense manufacturing overseas, leaving America dependent on foreign suppliers for critical military capabilities.

The U.S. Navy Must Build the ‘Golden Fleet’https://t.co/5RNf3AhC7O
— Harry Kazianis (@GrecianFormula) January 2, 2026

While defense analysts estimate $9 billion per battleship construction costs and warn of potential program cancellation by future administrations, the strategic necessity remains clear. Congressional skeptics demand proof this isn’t a “vanity project,” but the Golden Fleet directly addresses operational requirements for surviving in a hypersonic-rich environment while maintaining freedom of navigation against Chinese expansion. Industry experts estimate 5-7 year production timelines, but smaller unmanned systems can enter service more quickly through modular assembly and strategic partnerships.