Speaking at an event at his Mar a Lago resort in Florida, Trump said the new ships would be packed with cutting edge technology.

He highlighted features such as artificial intelligence, directed energy lasers, hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, and rail guns.

According to him, these ships would be ‘a clear show of strength,’ designed not against one country, but as a warning to any potential rival.

Trump displayed model images of the proposed ships during the event. The models showed sleek, modern designs, with Trump’s image placed prominently on the vessels. He said the first ship would be named USS Defiant, and work on it would begin immediately.

Trump claimed that each ship would be far more powerful than any American warship built before, calling them ‘giants of the sea.’ Initially, two ships are planned, but he said the fleet could grow to 10 to 25 ships in the future.

Trump and Navy Secretary John Phelan described the Trump Class as the spiritual successor to the 20 century battleships. Historically, battleships were massive, heavily armed vessels used to attack enemy ships or strike land targets.

However, their importance declined after World War II as aircraft carriers and long range missiles became more effective.

During World War II, the largest U.S. battleships were the Iowa class, weighing nearly 60,000 tons. Trump said the new Trump Class ships would be similar in size but much lighter, around 35,000 tons, thanks to modern materials and design.

Each ship would carry a crew of 650 to 850 sailors, and unlike old battleships, their main weapons would be missiles rather than large naval guns.

Trump also referred to the historic ‘Great White Fleet’ launched under President Theodore Roosevelt, saying the new ships would help keep American naval power strong and visible around the world.

On the defense industry, Trump said he would put strong pressure on contractors to speed up production and cut costs. He announced plans to meet major defense companies next week to review delays, rising expenses, and executive pay.

He criticized what he called runaway executive salaries, saying he did not want company leaders earning tens of millions of dollars a year while key defense projects, such as the F 35 fighter jet, face delays.

Trump ended his remarks by saying the Trump Class fleet would send a simple message, the United States intends to stay ahead, stay strong, and stay ready.