Trump pitches ‘Trump-class’ 30,000-ton laser-armed ships for US Navy

Former President Donald Trump unveiled plans for a new “Trump-class” battleship intended to revitalize the US Navy’s surface fleet. Announced at his Mar-a-Lago estate, the proposed ships would each weigh over 30,000 tons—larger than current destroyers—and feature advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, directed-energy lasers, hypersonic and nuclear cruise missiles, and railguns. Trump positioned these vessels as a break from the existing fleet, aiming to replace aging Arleigh Burke-class destroyers with more lethal, multi-role surface combatants. The initiative is part of a broader “Golden Fleet” vision to boost domestic shipbuilding and close the gap with China, which dominates global ship production. Despite the ambitious claims, many of the proposed technologies remain unproven or have faced setbacks. For example, the Navy abandoned its railgun program in 2021 after extensive investment, and laser weapon systems have only achieved limited operational success. Nuclear cruise missiles also raise treaty compliance concerns. While