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Trump Announces New 'Golden Fleet' of Navy Warships

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Trump Announces New 'Golden Fleet' of Navy Warships

Media Bias Meter

Sources: 6

Center 67%

Right 33%

Sources: 6

Washington — President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced plans to build a new class of large warships he calls a "battleship" as part of a broader "Golden Fleet" initiative, officials said. The plan, unveiled at Mar‑a‑Lago with senior national security officials present, calls for a new surface combatant class and as many as 50 support ships; Trump and aides cited modern weapons concepts including hypersonic missiles, railguns and high‑energy lasers. The Navy earlier canceled a separate small warship program amid cost and schedule problems. Officials did not provide immediate cost or timeline. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers entered service beginning in the late 1980s and remain a mainstay of the surface fleet.
The Navy pursued new small-warship designs but canceled the small-warship program about one month prior to the announcement due to delays and overruns.
The Navy announced on Dec. 19 that it is pursuing a new frigate based on the Legend-class cutter to shore up surface combatant numbers.
President Trump held an event at Mar-a-Lago announcing a 'Golden Fleet' and a new large surface combatant, displaying renderings and naming attendees.
Public reporting notes claims about hypersonics, railguns, and lasers, but does not include cost estimates, procurement timelines, or legislative approvals.