Haters are going to hate and I don’t give a fig or a feather. While at Mar-a-Lago for the holidays, President Trump announced a new Trump-class Golden Fleet of surface warfare ships for the Navy. The first ship will be named the U.S.S. Defiant. That name, if you ask me and you didn’t, is freaking awesome. It will be a Merry Christmas for the U.S. Navy which has been given short shrift lately. We’re looking at you, Space Force.
If you haven’t heard about the new Golden Fleet, behold this piece from the U.S. Naval Institute News:
The centerpiece of the Trump administration’s revamp of the U.S. Navy is the largest surface combatant America will build since World War II.
The U.S. Navy will buy two new “battleships” as part of the “Golden Fleet” effort, President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan announced Monday at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump said the Navy will start by purchasing two ships and eventually purchase 10, with a goal of 20 to 25 in total for the class with the start of construction planned for 2030.
“The U.S. Navy will lead the design, along with me, because I’m a very aesthetic person,” Trump said.
As a triple Trump voter, I give myself permission to state that Trump is a very aesthetic person. You may think he is a douche-canoe but he does have an eye. The ships will be pleasing to the eye AND with unsurpassed lethality. More from U.S. Naval Institute News:
“The future Trump-class battleship – the USS Defiant – will be the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world’s oceans,” Phelan said during the presentation. “Now there will be work for shipyards everywhere from Philadelphia to San Diego, from Maine to Mississippi, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast, and for manufacturers that will build components for this battleship in every state.”
AND, the sailors that will serve aboard each of these Trump-class ships will be darn proud. They loved the “Fight, fight, fight” photos:
Images of a future USS Defiant (BBG-1) were featured alongside Trump, Hegseth and Phelan, as well as a ship logo based on the July 13, 2024, Evan Vucci photo taken shortly after Trump was shot in the ear during an assassination attempt amid his presidential campaign.
Big Donald Trump fan, the late Charlie Kirk, called out the Evan Vucci photo last Spring:
Evan Vucci’s photograph of Donald Trump after last summer’s assassination attempt is iconic — maybe the single most famous photo of the past decade. But because it made Trump look good, the Pulitzer Prize committee just refused to give it the award for best breaking news… pic.twitter.com/oUJyCAAFv3
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 6, 2025
I totally agree with Johnny Maga:
Omg. The new Trump-class warship announced today — the ‘USS Defiant’ — will bear an image of Trump’s iconic “FIGHT” pose from the Butler, PA assassination attempt.
This is so metal. pic.twitter.com/QRqgZVOg2d
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) December 22, 2025
Americans, especially Republicans, have been far too self-effacing for too long. It’s about time we started naming things after ourselves, like the Trump-Kennedy Center. From USA Today:
The announcement comes a few days after Trump’s name was added to the outside of the iconic Kennedy Center building in Washington, DC, on Dec. 19, less than 24 hours after the center’s board of trustees voted to rename it the “Trump-Kennedy Center.”
Would it have been more palatable if his name would have been added a week later? Maroons!
Speaking of maroons, here are some choice bits from the New York Times:
New battleships: President Trump announced on Monday that the Navy would build two new “Trump Class” battleships, with the eventual goal of acquiring 25. The announcement by Mr. Trump was the latest example of the president rebranding an aspect of the federal government in his image. The Navy secretary, John Phelan, called the vessels “just one piece of the president’s golden fleet that we’re going to build.”
Since World War II, it’s been time for a little rebranding, in my humble opinion. More NY Times:
President Trump is emphasizing that he wants these ships constructed quickly. He said he will meet with defense contractors next week in Florida to talk about accelerating production schedules “because they’re too slow,” Trump said. “They don’t produce them fast enough,” Trump said, adding his is prepared to penalize companies who “aren’t doing a good job.” He also said the administration plans on “fixing up” the Navy’s headquarters.
Here is the announcement of the new ships. Does anyone else think Secretary Rubio looks a little hurt after America Fest announcement by Erica Kirk last week?
I love the word “lethality”.
Truly, if our military has the equipment and the leadership to start winning battles and scary the bejesus out of our enemies, I am a happy patriot. Huzzah!
Hater will still hate.
Featured Image: Naval Sea Systems Command Image/U.S. Naval Institute News/Public Domain
George V says: My opinion is that the Navy’s procurement process has to be fixed before any new ships are built. The Littoral Combat Ship, the Ford carrier, the frigate that just got cancelled that was based on an existing design from Europe all were way behind schedule, way over budget, and have design flaws that rendered them less than 100%. I’ve read that the LCS propulsion often failed and some of the ships have been decommissioned already, the Ford, at least initially, could not launch the F-35, and it’s EMALs catapults have a single point of failure that could take out all 4 catapults. Fix the procurement first, Mr. President.
Toni Williams says: The whole military procurement system wastes money and doesn’t get the best products.
Que says: Did you consult any Navy officer before writing this fangirl drivel?
I sent an article about this latest Trump scheme from the news aggregator Ground News to a senior Navy officer I know. He has 20 years active duty experience, currently commands a crew, and is a USNA graduate to boot. So I think he knows more than “Johnny Maga.”
His reaction? “Foolish and risky.” He added that since resources are scarce, we shouldn’t be investing in something that will end up being a “lost cause.” This could set the Navy back decades, he believes.
Why is this a lost cause? Because the Navy stopped fielding battleships after the introduction of aircraft carriers. The last battleship class (Iowa) was retired in the early 1990’s after being used briefly in the Persian Gulf war. That’s 30 years ago.
What’s next for President Caligula? Massive heavy bomber groups like those flown in World War II?
Scott says: Interesting that you have no issue that the Navy moved from a battleship centric model to one centered around aircraft carriers, but at the same time seem to feel that no further evolution is ever warranted? As I recall, admirals of the time were completely against that last change.. and time has proven them wrong, so just MAYBE those that are set in the ways of how things are might NOT be the best judges of where we should go from here.. (see also the Air Force generals who decided in the 50’s -60’s that fighters wouldn’t need guns, just missiles)
It’s not like the announcements have any significant details about the proposed ships to criticize. Just a suggestion, maybe wait until more details have come out, and a better picture / justification is presented, before attacking the concept in a knee-jerk fashion…
or maybe that’s just me..
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