Trump Announces New Navy Battleships, HII Shares Rise
Catch up on the top industries and stocks that were impacted, or were predicted to be impacted, by the comments, actions and policies of President Donald Trump with this daily recap compiled by The Fly.TRUMP CLASS OF NAVY BATTLESHIPS:President Trump on Monday announced plans to build a new fleet of Navy battleships, anchoring what he called the Pentagon's "Golden Fleet," CBS News' Kathryn Watson. The president said he approved plans to begin constructing "two brand-new, very large, largest we've ever built, battleships." He later said he expects to build a total of 10 ships in short order, and ultimately 20 to 25. He made the announcement flanked by renderings of ships that were referred to as "Trump class." Shares of Huntington Ingallstraded up following the news.NEW YORK TIMES:President Donald Trump, in a social media, said, "The Failing New York Times, and their lies and purposeful misrepresentations, is a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation. Their Radical Left, Unhinged Behavior, writing FAKE Articles and Opinions in a never ending way, must be dealt with and stopped. THEY ARE A TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! Thank you for you attention to this matter."ECONOMIC NUMBERS:President Donald Trump, in a social media, said, "The TARIFFS are responsible for the GREAT USA Economic Numbers JUST ANNOUNCED...AND THEY WILL ONLY GET BETTER! Also, NO INFLATION & GREAT NATIONAL SECURITY. Pray for the U.S. Supreme Court!!!"DISTILLERY CLOSURE:Bourbon maker Jim Beamis halting production at one of its distilleries in Kentucky for at least a year as the whiskey industry navigates tariffs from the Trump administration and slumping demand for a product that needs years of aging before it is ready, Associated Press' Jeffrey Collins. Jim Beam said the decision to pause bourbon making at its Clermont location in 2026 will give the company time to invest in improvements at the distillery. The bottling and warehouse at the site will remain open, along with the James B. Beam Distilling Co. visitors center and restaurant, the author notes. Other publicly traded companies in the space include Brown Forman,, Diageo, Constellation Brands, and MGP Ingredients.CVOW PROJECT:Dominion Energyreleased a statement in response to the U.S. Department of Interior's Director's Order for a 90-day suspension of work issued for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, saying that, "The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project is essential for American national security and meeting Virginia's dramatically growing energy needs, the fastest growth in America. This growth is driven by the need to provide reliable power to many of America's most important war fighting installations, the world's largest warship manufacturer, and the largest concentration of data centers on the planet as well as the leading edge of the AI revolution. Stopping CVOW for any length of time will threaten grid reliability for some of the nation's most important war fighting, AI, and civilian assets. It will also lead to energy inflation and threaten thousands of jobs. CVOW is American-owned and benefits all of our Virginia customers. Our customers are paying for the project after a careful review of project costs and benefits by Virginia state regulators in 2022. These same state regulators, along with numerous federal agencies, oversee our cyber and physical security program, which is among the strongest in the energy industry. he project has been more than ten years in the works, involved close coordination with the military, and is located 27 to 44 miles offshore, so far offshore it does not raise visual impact concerns. The project's two pilot turbines have been operating for five years without causing any impacts to national security. CVOW enjoys bipartisan support and is within months of generating a massive 2,600 megawatts to support the fastest growing part of America's energy grid. This growth serves the largest concentration of critical infrastructure in the world. Virginia's All-American, All-Of-The-Above-Energy Plan requires a range of power generation assets, including natural gas, advanced nuclear, and renewables. Virginia needs every electron we can get as our demand for electricity doubles. These electrons will power the data centers that will win the AI race, support our war fighters, and build the nuclear warships needed to maintain our maritime supremacy. Virginia's grid needs addition of electrons, not subtraction."DRONE BAN:The Federal Communications Commission said on Monday it was adding China's DJI, Autel and all foreign-made drones and components to a list of companies determined to pose unacceptable risks to U.S. national security and would bar approvals of new types of drones for import or sale in the United States, Reuters' David Shepardson reports. The addition to the FCC's "Covered List" means that DJI, Autel and other foreign drone companies will not be able to obtain FCC approval to sell new models of drones or critical components in the United States, which is required, the author notes. Publicly traded companies in the space include Ondas, Red Cat, Draganfly, AeroVironment, and Unusual Machines.
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- Production Line Launch: Bayou Metal Supply & Manufacturing has launched a dedicated production line in Slidell, Louisiana, to support the accelerated construction of HII's ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels (USVs), ensuring precise cutting, bending, welding, and assembly of major structural components, thereby enhancing production efficiency.
- Strategic Partnership: As HII's aluminum supply and fabrication partner, Bayou Metals is providing marine-grade aluminum and establishing dedicated manufacturing capacity to meet the ROMULUS USV production schedule, which reduces production risks and accelerates delivery timelines.
- Capacity Enhancement: HII plans to build four ROMULUS 151 vessels at Breaux Brothers Enterprises, marking a rapid transition from prototype to initial production, aimed at accelerating the delivery of autonomous surface capabilities to the U.S. Navy and allied partners.
- Industry Impact: This collaboration not only improves manufacturing performance but also supports the expansion of the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base by increasing Gulf Coast manufacturing capacity and building a larger skilled workforce, thereby driving overall industry growth.
- Current Fleet Status: When President Trump took office, he promised a 355-ship Navy, but the current fleet stands at only 291 ships, an improvement from 275 in 2016, yet still below legal requirements, highlighting a persistent lag in naval construction.
- Budget and Plan: The Navy aims to achieve a fleet of 355 ships over the next 30 years with a proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget, focusing on high-end platforms like aircraft carriers and submarines while increasing the number of budget-friendly frigates and littoral combat ships to enhance global presence.
- Production Capacity Enhancement: The Navy's plan includes a whole-of-industry approach, proposing that 50% of future shipbuilding will occur at various shipyards across the country to boost production rates and curb cost overruns, with facility upgrades and workforce training as key components.
- Future Outlook: Although the fleet is not expected to reach 355 ships until 2040, the Navy's long-term goal is to approach 400 ships by the end of the 30-year plan, reflecting confidence in future naval expansion, particularly with the potential integration of unmanned maritime vehicles.
- Fleet Expansion Goals: The U.S. Navy aims to expand its battle force to 355 ships by 2040 and nearly 400 by 2056, despite currently having only 291 ships, highlighting the urgency and strategic necessity for growth.
- Budget and Investment: Under a $1.5 trillion defense budget, the Navy's shipbuilding budget has doubled over the past two decades, yet the fleet size has not increased, reflecting ongoing budgetary pressures and resource allocation challenges.
- Production Capacity Enhancement: The Navy plans to distribute 50% of future shipbuilding across multiple shipyards nationwide to improve production efficiency and reduce cost overruns, with expectations to leverage advanced AI tools for optimized construction scheduling.
- Future Outlook and Challenges: While the plan outlines a $305.7 billion investment in battle force and auxiliary ships over the next five years, the fleet's growth will be limited in the short term due to the retirement of older vessels, illustrating the tension between long-term goals and immediate realities.
- Innovative Talent Attraction: HII's WAVES program, in collaboration with 14 Virginia schools, successfully attracts over 50 high school graduates into the shipbuilding industry, showcasing the company's commitment to future talent investment.
- Experienced Mentor Support: The program embeds skilled shipbuilders in high schools to provide monthly guidance and support, helping students build trust and understand HII career opportunities, thereby enhancing their confidence and skills.
- Successful Welcome Ceremony: NNS hosted its first 'Welcoming Ceremony' for students recruited through WAVES, recognizing their achievements and facilitating initial interactions with new teammates, which strengthens team cohesion.
- HII's Industry Leadership: As America's largest shipbuilder, HII's leadership in unmanned systems and defense technologies further solidifies its strategic advantage in attracting the next generation of skilled professionals.
- Master Shipbuilder Recognition: HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division honored 40 employees for 40 years of continuous service, showcasing their exceptional skills and dedication in building the Navy's most advanced ships, thereby reinforcing the company's leadership in the defense sector.
- Technological Evolution Reflection: Veteran shipbuilder Johnny Brown reflected on the evolution of shipbuilding technology since 1986, particularly the introduction of AI, emphasizing how these advancements have enhanced shipbuilding efficiency and the understanding of national security missions.
- Future Outlook: Fellow master shipbuilder Jeff Davis expressed pride in his contributions to the fleet, believing it better prepares the Navy for future challenges, while also trusting that future shipbuilders will continue to lead the company forward.
- Cultural Legacy: The ceremony not only celebrated the achievements of the shipbuilders but also featured a tribute video highlighting their career milestones, underscoring their vital roles in shaping national security and the company's culture.
- Technical Milestone: HII's ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel has successfully advanced to the U.S. Navy's Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel evaluation phase, marking a significant achievement in the company's long-standing commitment to delivering autonomous capabilities that meet evolving naval requirements.
- Autonomous Control Solutions: At the core of ROMULUS is HII's Odyssey Autonomous Control Solutions, a proven software suite deployed across unmanned underwater and surface platforms in 30 countries, enhancing multi-platform collaborative autonomy and operational effectiveness for the Navy.
- Multi-Mission Capability: Designed to support various missions including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, ROMULUS offers high endurance and flexibility, fulfilling the operational demands of future naval missions, particularly in distributed maritime operations.
- Market Leadership: As America's largest shipbuilder, HII leads globally in the production of unmanned underwater and surface systems, leveraging over 140 years of history to enhance U.S. national security and drive the integration and advancement of defense capabilities.









