In a jaw-dropping display of presidential ego that’s got Washington insiders rolling their eyes and late-night hosts sharpening their knives, President Donald Trump unveiled plans for a brand-new class of Navy warships—boldly dubbing them the “Trump Class” vessels—during a glitzy event at his Mar-a-Lago resort on December 22, 2025. Billed as the “largest, deadliest, most versatile, and best-looking warships” ever built, the announcement has ignited a firestorm of mockery, with critics slamming it as the ultimate vanity project funded by taxpayers.
Trump, flanked by Navy Secretary John Phelan and top brass, gushed over the designs, promising these upgraded guided-missile destroyers would eclipse the aging Arleigh Burke-class fleet—named after a WWII hero admiral. “These ships will be named after me because nobody builds better than Trump,” he boasted, teasing gold accents and slogans like “Strength Through Power” emblazoned on the hulls. The “Golden Fleet,” as Trump coined it, aims to modernize the Navy with enhanced stealth, firepower, and—apparently—aesthetic flair, including potential Trump-branded interiors. Insiders whisper the idea stemmed from Trump’s frustration with “boring” military naming conventions, pushing for personalization since his 2024 reelection.
The backlash was swift and savage. Late-night kingpin Jimmy Kimmel wasted no time torching the president in his December 23 monologue, dubbing it “ultimate vanity” and cracking: “Trump’s turning the Navy into his personal yacht club—next, he’ll name submarines after his hairpiece!” Kimmel’s bit, which went viral with millions of views overnight, featured mockups of gold-plated battleships complete with Trump Tower-style spires and a helipad for golf carts. “We don’t need battleships named after a guy who dodged the draft—how about the USS Bone Spurs?” Kimmel quipped, referencing Trump’s Vietnam-era deferments. The comedian, no stranger to Trump feuds (recall the FCC suspension threat over his anti-Trump jabs), used the segment to highlight the absurdity: “While families struggle with tariffs jacking up prices, Trump’s slapping his name on billion-dollar boats. Ego much?”
Public reaction exploded online, with hashtags like #TrumpVanityFleet and #GoldenEgo trending across platforms. X users piled on: “Tax dollars for Trump’s ego trip? No thanks,” one viral post read, amassing thousands of retweets. Supporters defended the move as “bold leadership,” with MAGA influencers praising the “Trump touch” for boosting morale. “Finally, ships that look as strong as our president!” gushed one pro-Trump account. Polls show mixed vibes— a quick Emerson survey pegged 42% approval for the naming, but 55% called it “inappropriate,” especially amid economic woes like soaring auto prices in swing states.
Behind the scenes, Navy sources claim the proposal blindsided many admirals, who view it as a distraction from real priorities like countering Chinese aggression in the Pacific. “We’re focused on lethality, not logos,” one anonymous flag officer told reporters, revealing internal memos questioning the “golden” upgrades’ costs—estimated at an extra $500 million per ship for cosmetic tweaks. Whispers suggest Trump personally sketched designs during Oval Office meetings, insisting on “Trump” in massive letters visible from space. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly pushed back initially, but loyalty won out. “It’s unprecedented—presidents don’t name classes after themselves while in office,” a Pentagon insider dished, noting historical precedents like the Reagan carrier or Ford class, named post-tenure.
The scandal ties into Trump’s broader personalization crusade: from rebranding federal buildings to floating “Trump Space Force” emblems. Critics like MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow blasted it as “authoritarian vibes,” warning it erodes military neutrality. “Sticking his name on everything is tough when you’re still president—it’s like a king marking territory,” she argued on her show. Democrats in Congress, led by figures like Adam Schiff, vowed oversight hearings post-holidays, probing if the rename violates ethics rules or diverts funds from veteran care.
Kimmel’s roast amplified the outrage, drawing FCC scrutiny once more—Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, tweeted warnings about “biased broadcasting.” But Kimmel fired back: “If naming ships after yourself isn’t vanity, what is? I’ll keep calling it out.” The comedian’s ratings spiked, proving Trump-bashing remains gold for late-night TV.
As the holidays loom, this vanity voyage underscores Trump’s second-term style: bold, brash, and boundary-pushing. Will Congress sink the Golden Fleet before it launches? Or will Trump’s name sail into naval history? With midterms on the horizon and approval dipping in key states, this could be the ego trip that backfires.
The full Kimmel clip and announcement footage are going viral—watch before the waves of controversy crash harder. This D.C. drama is pure spectacle, and the internet can’t stop dunking on Trump’s battleship blunder.
