(Palm Beach) Donald Trump announced Monday the launch of a new class of large warships that will bear his name, an extremely unusual move for a sitting president.
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These ships will be “the best in the world,” assured the American president during a press conference from his residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, specifying that two warships of the “Trump Class USS Defiant” would be built to begin with.
Images representing the future ship at sea and in action were displayed on easels around the desk.
PHOTO ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Secretary of State Marco Rubio
He estimated that the construction of the first two would take “around 2 and a half years”, ensuring that this new class of vessels would then “quickly” number 10 ships, and, at the end of the project, 20 to 25 ships.
“Each of them will be the largest warship in the history of our country” and even “the world,” assured the 79-year-old billionaire, never shy of hyperbole. He said the buildings would be equipped with cannons and lasers, and could carry hypersonic and nuclear weapons.
Donald Trump said he wanted to be personally involved in the design of the new boats, “because I am a very aesthetic person”.
He also indicated that this new class of buildings was designed as a message “to everyone, this is not for China. We get along very well with China,” which has strengthened and modernized its own navy.
