00:00President Trump is unveiling a dramatic expansion of U.S. naval power, announcing plans for a new
00:08class of massive warships that would anchor what he's calling the Navy's new golden fleet.
00:14Speaking from Mar-a-Lago and joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio,
00:18Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Navy Secretary John Phelan, Trump said he has
00:22approved plans for two ultra-large battleships with a long-term goal of building as many as 25
00:28ships as part of the fleet. There'll be 100 times the force, the power, and there's never been
00:36anything like these ships. These have been under design consideration for a long time.
00:42The president says the ships would be the largest battleships ever built, combining heavy naval guns
00:48with advanced missiles, cutting-edge defense, and next-generation technology. The announcement
00:53comes as the administration ramps up military pressure overseas, including stepped-up U.S.
00:59and Coast Guard operations in the Caribbean, tied to Venezuela. Asked whether that pressure is meant
01:04to force President Nicolas Maduro from power, Trump hedged, saying it, quote, probably would,
01:10but added that decision is ultimately up to Maduro. Pressed on why Maduro should take American
01:16threats seriously, the president was blunt, warning that if he plays tough, it would be the last time.
01:22Trump also confirmed the United States plans to keep nearly two million barrels of oil seized from
01:29tankers off the Venezuelan coast, along with the ships themselves, saying he has already spoken
01:34with American oil companies about what a post-Maduro future could look like.
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