Trump noted that the new combat ships will be equipped with high-tech weapons, including guns, missiles, hypersonic weapons, modern railguns, and powerful lasers. Additionally, they will have nuclear weapons and sea-based cruise missiles that are currently under development. The vessels will also include components of artificial intelligence.
The design of the new battleships will be developed in collaboration with the Navy, as Trump considers himself "a very aesthetic person." The displacement of each ship will range from 30 to 40 thousand tons, and they will be built from steel rather than aluminum. In the next two and a half years, the construction of the first two ships is planned, with a total cost of about 26 billion dollars. Ultimately, the fleet is expected to consist of 20 to 25 such battleships, which will become the largest in history, Trump emphasized. He also noted that these ships are not intended to confront China but serve to achieve "peace through strength."
At the press conference with Trump were U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Navy Secretary John Phelan.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the development of the navy is linked to key tasks of the department, such as restoring the "warrior spirit," modernizing the armed forces, and strengthening deterrent capabilities. John Phelan added that the future "Trump" class battleship will become "the largest, deadliest, most versatile, and aesthetically appealing military ship in the world's oceans."
