Key Takeaways
• President Trump unveiled a new Trump-class battleship fleet this week.
• Naval experts say battleships have been obsolete for decades.
• Critics warn the Trump-class battleship would be a “bomb magnet.”
• High costs, long timelines, and modern strategies clash with the design.
• Most analysts expect the program to be canceled before any ship launches.
In a recent announcement, President Trump praised his new Trump-class battleship as “the fastest, the biggest, and 100 times more powerful.” Yet experts quickly dismissed the idea. They say battleships died out long ago. Therefore, the Trump-class battleship will face major hurdles if it ever moves past paper plans.
Why the Trump-Class Battleship Is Obsolete
During his speech, the president claimed these ships would secure “American military supremacy.” However, battleships have not been front-line vessels for nearly a century. The last US battleships were built over 80 years ago. The Iowa-class ships retired almost 30 years ago. Since then, aircraft carriers and missile-armed destroyers have led naval warfare.
Moreover, modern conflicts rely on long-range missiles, drones, and stealth technology. Battleships’ big guns no longer matter. They would struggle to hit targets beyond the horizon. And their large profiles make them easy to spot and target. In real combat, any Trump-class battleship could draw heavy fire before it fired a single round.
Experts Warn on the Trump-Class Battleship
Several analysts spoke with CNBC and offered harsh critiques. Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the plans “take too long to design,” “cost far too much,” and clash with the Navy’s shift to distributed firepower. He added, “A future administration will cancel the program before the first ship hits the water.”
Bernard Loo from Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies called the project a prestige play. He compared it to Japan’s super-battleships Yamato and Musashi. Those giant ships never proved useful. They were sunk by carrier-launched planes before they could change the war’s course. Loo warned a Trump-class battleship would meet a similar bomb magnet fate.
Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute suggested President Trump might be thinking in 1980s terms. Back then, the US briefly reactivated WWII-era battleships to counter Soviet threats. Clark believes the president sees these ships as symbols of power. Yet today’s threats and tactics have moved on.
Battleships vs. Modern Naval Warfare
Battleships once symbolized naval might. Their massive guns ruled the seas. Yet technology evolved rapidly. Today’s wars use satellites, radar, and guided missiles. Navies prefer smaller, faster ships. Carrier groups launch drones and jets from afar. Destroyers fire Tomahawk missiles deep into enemy territory.
In contrast, the Trump-class battleship would sit close to shore to fire its guns. That makes it vulnerable. Enemy missiles, drones, and submarines could strike first. Even cyberattacks might disable its systems. Modern fleets value flexibility, stealth, and networked firepower over brute force.
Furthermore, maintaining such a vessel would cost billions. Its crew would need specialized training. Supply chains would stretch to support fuel, ammunition, and repairs. These factors drive navies to retire large, single-purpose ships. They opt for multi-role platforms that adapt to shifting threats.
Lessons from Yamato and Musashi
History offers a cautionary tale. During World War II, Japan built the Yamato and Musashi. They were the largest battleships ever. Yet both sank under air attack. Their size made them easy targets. They never altered the war’s outcome.
Likewise, a Trump-class battleship may look impressive. But its bulk and visibility could make it a priority target. Enemy forces would plan strikes well in advance. They’d use air and sea drones, missiles, and submarines. In short, the ship’s prestige might become its downfall.
What Comes Next for the Fleet
Despite the backlash, the White House has not provided detailed blueprints. Some observers think the name Trump-class battleship might be a misnomer. Perhaps the actual design leans toward modern destroyers or littoral combat ships. Yet until plans emerge, experts remain skeptical.
If the program advances, Congress would face funding decisions. Lawmakers might trim the budget or attach requirements for cost controls. Meanwhile, the Navy would press for systems that fit its current strategy. It favors many smaller, networked ships over a few behemoths.
In time, a new administration could scrap the entire plan. Cancian’s prediction may come true: the Trump-class battleship may never leave the drawing board. Instead, the Navy would continue investing in carriers, submarines, and missile platforms that reflect 21st-century threats.
Conclusion
The Trump-class battleship idea has drawn strong criticism from naval experts. They point out that battleships fell out of favor long ago. Modern warfare relies on stealth, speed, and long-range strikes. Big-gun ships would move too slowly and sit too close to danger. Moreover, the costs and design timeline clash with current naval strategy. Given these factors, chances are slim that a Trump-class battleship ever sails into action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Trump-class battleship?
It is a proposed US Navy warship announced by President Trump. It borrows the old battleship concept with huge guns.
Why do experts call it obsolete?
Battleships have not led naval battles for decades. Modern fleets prefer carriers and missile-armed ships.
Could the design change to modern specs?
Possibly. Some suggest the name might hide a more contemporary destroyer-style vessel.
Will Congress fund the project?
Funding remains uncertain. Many legislators doubt its value and worry about rising costs.