Archive · 15 Jan 2026
Trump's Golden Fleet aims to restore US maritime dominance
The US Secretary of the Navy, John Phelan, said that the country's shipbuilding programs are in a bad state, being behind schedule and over budget.
He announced President Trump's Golden Fleet initiative to fix this and make the US strong in the sea again.
He compared the US to China, which has a much bigger workforce for making things.
China wants to be the most powerful country in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Golden Fleet includes new types of ships, like big battleships and smaller, unmanned ones, to help the US stay ahead.
US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan called current US shipbuilding programs a 'mess' and 'behind schedule and over budget'.
He announced President Trump's Golden Fleet initiative to revitalize the American shipbuilding industry and restore maritime dominance over China.
Phelan highlighted China's manufacturing workforce of 100 million compared to the US's 13 million.
The Golden Fleet includes a new 'Trump-class' battleship and a mix of naval platforms, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, and autonomous ships.
China's leadership has expressed ambitions to dominate the Indo-Pacific and displace the US as the world's leading economic and maritime power.
- Who
- US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and US President Donald Trump
- What
- Announcement of Trump's Golden Fleet initiative to revitalize US shipbuilding and restore maritime dominance
- When
- January 13
- Where
- Surface Navy Association symposium
- Why
- To address the current state of US shipbuilding programs being behind schedule and over budget, and to counter China's growing maritime power
- Secretary of the Navy
- John Phelan
- Date of Announcement
- January 13
- China's Manufacturing Workforce
- 100 million
- US Manufacturing Workforce
- 13 million
- Trump's Initiative
- Golden Fleet
- China's Ambition
- Dominate the Indo-Pacific