America’s president has applied for a trademark on “Trump” in Feb. 2025. Everywhere he plasters his name, it will serve as a name marker and a brand name. Selling his name and brand or possibly leasing it has been an important business activity for Trump for quite a while.

According to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), personal names may be trademarked only if-

“Individuals have a right to privacy and a right to control how their name, likeness, and identity is used. If your trademark appears to include the name, signature, or portrait of a particular living individual, your trademark can only be registered with the written consent of that individual. “

There is no doubt that a trademark will be issued since Trump has oversight of the Department of Commerce. So, atop the highest hill in the land, the President’s brand name will stand majestically like old Glory in front of God, the flag and Florida. Any reference to him by name will also serve as brand advertising.

Navy Secretary John Phelan announced that “The future Trump-class battleship – the USS Defiant – will be the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world’s oceans…”  So, is the Trump name here his family or brand name? The tell-tale could be a (TM) symbol on the battleship.

Apparently, the recent failure of the Zumwalt Class of destroyers doesn’t dissuade anyone, especially the shipyards. The three Zumwalt-Class ships produced cost $8 billion each. Mike Fredenburg, writing for the National Review said-

The Zumwalt is an unmitigated disaster. Clearly it is not a good fit as a frontline warship. With its guns neutered, its role as a primary anti-submarine-warfare asset in question, its anti-air-warfare capabilities inferior to those of our current workhorse, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and its stealth not nearly as advantageous as advertised, the Zumwalt seems to be a ship without a mission.

The readers can see for themselves what Trump said in his public disclosure of the Trump-Class of “battleships”. He made a point of assuring the public that he will be monitoring the aesthetics of the ship’s design.

Given all of the recent developments in anti-ship missiles and the successful use of drone boats by Ukraine, is commissioning larger targets surface ships such a smart idea? Does anyone think China has been sitting in its hands while drone warfare blossoms in the Putin-Ukraine war? They know full well the capabilities of the US Navy and are arming themselves to sink any ship that interferes with their annexing of Taiwan, the Taiwan strait and the South China Seas. America’s technological edge over China must be paper-thin if it exists at all. Do you remember all of those Chinese students and postdocs educating themselves in the USA during the last 40 years? Guess what they have been busy doing since they returned home with their degrees.

China recently revealed a new type of hypersonic antiship missile called the YJ-21 missile at the Zhuhai Air Show 2024. These missiles are designed to attack carrier groups. This high-speed, 2 stage, solid fuel missile is said to exceed Mach 6 with a ballistic trajectory (!!) and velocity that will challenge US antimissile systems. Its warhead system is said to be tailored for attacking large surface ships with a variety of warhead packages.

By “large ships” they mean aircraft carriers specifically and carrier strike groups generally. I assume that “ballistic trajectory” means near-vertical trajectory to the target. Given that the US Navy relies on the overwhelming threat of its carrier groups, this missile system is obviously designed to be maximally effective against the US Navy. Reportedly the missile can be air, littoral or blue water launched.

The upcoming Trump-Class of “battleships” will reflect Trump’s selection of glamorous naval architecture tastefully appointed with abundant gold leaf. If we’re lucky, Melania will design the uniforms with her dark, minimalist couture. Imagine the Mandarin AI guiding the hypersonic Chinese missiles straight down, penetrating the flight decks of our carriers. Will they document in the remaining milliseconds the tastefully appointed ship and note the shame of it all that such elegance is now nothing but burning and drowning sailors, shredded and twisted metal as well as still-functioning nuclear reactors gliding down to the dark and silent abyss below. Will there be unused nuclear warheads resting on the ocean floor? Possibly.

As with the Hollywood and it’s 80 years of WWII war movies, perhaps China’s film industry will portray the WWIII conflict with their own versions of the Hero’s Journey.