Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Appears in 1 story
Leading critic of Trump-class program
Trump just announced the United States will build battleships again. The USS Defiant (BBG-1)—lead ship of the Trump-class—will be the largest American surface combatant since World War II at 35,000 tons, armed with nuclear cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, rail guns, and lasers. Construction starts in 2030. The Navy wants 20 to 25 ships at over $10 billion each. One day after the announcement, the Pentagon released its annual China report revealing Beijing plans to build six more aircraft carriers for a total of nine by 2035—the largest carrier expansion in the Indo-Pacific since World War II.
Updated Dec 25, 2025
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