Trump outlines futuristic vision for U.S. Navy as Venezuela tensions rise
President Donald Trump on Monday laid out an ambitious vision for the future of the US Navy, describing advanced weapons systems, artificial intelligence and robotic shipbuilding as the United States intensifies military operations in the Caribbean.
Speaking during a special announcement, Trump said future US battleships would be equipped with an array of next-generation technology, including hypersonic weapons, electric rail guns and high-powered lasers.
“The battleships are going to be armed just in terms of guns and missiles at the highest level,” Trump said. “They’ll also have hypersonic weapons, many hypersonic weapons, state-of-the-art electric rail guns, and even the high-powered lasers that you’ve been starting to read about.”
Trump also referenced a new ship, the USS Defiant, which he said would be assembled by robots, use artificial intelligence and be capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The White House did not immediately provide technical details or a timeline for the vessel.
The remarks come as the administration increases its focus on U.S. naval forces amid escalating tensions with Venezuela. Trump said the US has been targeting Venezuelan vessels since September, alleging they are being used to transport drugs to the United States.
“We save 25,000 lives every single time we knock out a boat,” Trump said, claiming more than 96 percent of drug trafficking is stopped at sea. He did not provide evidence for the figures.
According to the administration, there have been 28 strikes on Venezuelan ships. Independent verification of those numbers was not immediately available.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the president’s claims, saying the targeted vessels were not legitimate fishing boats.
“There are no fishing poles, no fishermen, and no fishing boats — just drug dealers and narco terrorists,” Hegseth said. “With every strike, we are saving American lives.”
Over the weekend, the US also began seizing Venezuelan oil tankers in the Caribbean, following Trump’s order to impose a blockade on ships transporting oil from the country.
While the conflict has so far remained at sea, several analysts have noted Trump has repeatedly suggested the possibility of ground operations.
“And we’re going to have the same success, but even quicker, because it’s much easier on land,” Trump said. “If they want to come by land, they’re going to end up having a big problem.”
Trump said the proposed “Trump-class” battleships would be the “largest and fastest” ever built, framing the effort as essential to maintaining the United States’ status as a global military power.