Trump Unveils ‘Golden Fleet’ Initiative, New Battleship Class to Boost Sea Power
The president introduces new plans to revive U.S. shipbuilding and expand the Navy’s ship inventory.
President Donald Trump, flanked by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan, announces the U.S. Navy's new Golden Fleet initiative, unveiling a new class of warships, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on Dec. 22, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump unveiled plans for a new fleet of large warships, to be called “Trump-class” battleships, as part of his vision to build a “Golden Fleet,” in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday.
The new initiative comes as the Navy has seen setbacks in its shipbuilding efforts in recent decades, including the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program last month.
Emel Akan is a senior White House correspondent for The Epoch Times, where she covers the policies of the Trump administration. Previously, she reported on the Biden administration and the first term of President Trump. Before her journalism career, she worked in investment banking at JPMorgan. She holds an MBA from Georgetown University.
