Trump Unveils 260-Meter 'Trump-class' Battleship Amid Expert Skepticism

The grandeur of the past is meeting the cold reality of modern war. U.S. President Donald Trump has officially announced a new class of mammoth battleships, but military analysts aren't convinced. On Dec. 22, an image of the planned Trump-class battleship USS Defiant was put on display at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, sparking a debate over the future of naval doctrine.

A Behemoth Reminiscent of the Yamato

According to Reuters, the proposed vessel measures a staggering 260 meters in length. This scale is comparable to Japan's Yamato, the largest battleship ever built, which was famously sunk during World War II. While the Trump administration views these ships as vital for projecting power in contested regions like the Indo-Pacific, critics argue that size no longer guarantees security on the high seas.

The Vulnerability of Giant Targets

Modern warfare has shifted toward precision strikes, long-range missiles, and swarms of low-cost drones. In this environment, a massive battleship could become an expensive liability. Military experts point out that the resources required to protect such a vessel might outweigh its tactical benefits. Instead, they suggest focusing on quantum technology and decentralized naval assets, which the Pentagon has previously identified as keys to future conflicts.