Trump unveils 'Trump-class' warships and warns Maduro

WISE NEWS PRESS / PALM BEACH, USA — DECEMBER 23, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump has officially introduced the USS Defiant, the lead vessel of a new "Trump-class" fleet, describing the warships as the most powerful ever built while simultaneously escalating diplomatic pressure on Venezuela.

Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, President Trump stated that the new vessels would be the fastest and largest in the world, claiming they would be "100 times more powerful" than any existing warship. The ambitious plan aims to revitalize the U.S. Navy by building a "Golden Fleet" of 20 to 25 advanced ships to replace what Trump described as an aging and "obsolete" naval force.

Advanced technology and naval expansion

The USS Defiant and its successors are expected to weigh between 30,000 and 40,000 tons. U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan compared the new design to the legendary USS Iowa, though the Trump-class vessels are projected to be roughly half the weight while packing significantly more firepower. According to naval officials, these ships are designed to be equipped with hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, and high-powered laser systems currently under development by the U.S. military.

While Trump emphasized the urgent need for these ships, experts note that some of the integrated technologies, such as railguns, have faced developmental hurdles in the past. However, the President confirmed that construction for the first two vessels will begin immediately to ensure the U.S. maintains global naval dominance.

Stern warning to Venezuela's Maduro

During the same briefing, President Trump intensified his rhetoric against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, warning him not to "play tough." Flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump signaled a readiness to escalate the pressure campaign against Caracas, particularly concerning the illicit flow of drugs and the evasion of oil sanctions.

The warning comes as the U.S. Coast Guard continues to track "shadow fleet" tankers used by Venezuela to bypass international sanctions. Over the past weekend, the U.S. seized the Panama-flagged tanker Centuries, following the seizure of another vessel, Skipper, on December 10. When asked about the seized oil, Trump stated the U.S. would keep the assets, potentially for use in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

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