Unveiling of nuclear-armed battleships marks bold overhaul of US naval strategy

Global Watch | 2026-01-07

In a move signaling a dramatic shift in American naval doctrine and nuclear posture, President Donald Trump in last month announced the development of a new "Trump-class" of battleships.

These vessels, the first of which will be named USS Defiant, are slated to carry nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles, reintroducing a capability absent from the US surface fleet for decades.

Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida alongside Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, Trump on December 22, 2025, unveiled his vision for a new "Golden Fleet."

He described the forthcoming battleships as the "largest we've ever built" and "100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built." Initial plans call for the construction of two ships, with an eventual goal of a fleet of up to 25.

According to officials, the warships will displace 30,000 to 40,000 tons and be equipped with hypersonic and laser weapons in addition to nuclear cruise missiles.

"For the first time in generations, we'll have a new leg in America's nuclear deterrence," Phelan stated, emphasizing that the warships will ensure "American victory at sea is inevitable."

This announcement marks the centerpiece of a broader push to overhaul and expand the US shipbuilding industry to counter the growing naval power of China.

The administration has repeatedly voiced concerns over the decline of the American maritime industrial base, which has seen fleet numbers shrink while production costs and delays have soared. Earlier this year, the President established a new shipbuilding office within the White House to address what he termed "decades of government neglect."

Strategic shift

The announcement of the "Trump-class" represents a significant departure from the US Navy's strategic trajectory over the past 30 years, which has favored smaller, more versatile surface combatants like destroyers over massive capital ships.

The last American battleships, the Iowa-class, were decommissioned in the early 1990s at the end of the Cold War. Since then, the Navy has phased out its large Ticonderoga-class cruisers, replacing their capabilities with the smaller but highly capable Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

The decision to place nuclear weapons back onto surface combatants is perhaps the most consequential element of the plan.

The US Navy removed nuclear cruise missiles from its surface ships and attack submarines following the end of the Cold War, a move intended to reduce nuclear risks and promote non-proliferation.

While a new nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N) has been in development, its deployment has been a subject of intense debate.

Supporters argue that such a weapon is necessary to provide a more flexible and credible deterrent against tactical nuclear use by adversaries like Russia.

Opponents, however, warn that it could lower the threshold for nuclear conflict and create dangerous ambiguity for adversaries trying to determine whether an incoming missile is conventional or nuclear.

Deploying these weapons on large, forward-deployed surface ships, rather than stealthy submarines, could also create new vulnerabilities and escalatory pressures in a crisis.

Additionally, it complicates relations with allies, some of whom have policies restricting the porting of nuclear-armed vessels.

Commitment to stability

While Trump described the new battleships as a "counter to everybody," not just China, the initiative is unmistakably framed within the context of great power competition.

The "Trump-class" battleship, with its immense scale, advanced weaponry and nuclear capabilities, represents a significant shift in US naval strategy.

For NATO and Europe, this development could bolster collective security by reinforcing the United States' ability to project power and deter aggression in contested regions like the Arctic, Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific.

By ensuring American maritime supremacy, the initiative strengthens NATO's strategic depth, providing a credible deterrent against adversaries who challenge the alliance's interests.

Additionally, the deployment of such advanced vessels could enhance NATO's ability to secure critical sea lanes and protect global trade routes, which are vital to European economies.

While the concept is ambitious, its success could reaffirm the US commitment to maintaining stability and supporting allies in an era of rising geopolitical tensions.