Political speech, timestamped and in context

Donald Trump: “The United States once built as many as four ships a day.”

Featuring: Donald Trump, Republican | President of the United States | National

BREAKING NEWS: Donald Trump Announces New Shipyard Investments In Baltimore, Maryland

Published October 6, 2026

We have a great year. Thank you. Thank you. Fell. And what we're doing this afternoon is part of a dramatic turnaround for America in our defense industrial base. The United States once built as many as four ships a day. ships a day. Who would believe that? But more recently, it's taken an average of seven to 15 years. There's something going on. Same people, same everything. (15:47–15:51)

STATEMENT

Asserts that the U.S. historically built up to four ships daily.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

See the main statements from Donald Trump in this video

“We have $21 trillion being invested.”
Asserts that $21 trillion is being invested in the country.07:24-07:28
“Today we're officially launching the construction of the largest new shipyard in the United States since World War II.”
Asserts the launch of the largest new shipyard in the U.S. since World War II.08:35-08:42
“American taxpayers will receive a 40% stake in the new shipyard.”
Asserts that American taxpayers will receive a 40% stake in the new shipyard.11:44-11:50
“We didn't build a car plant for 44 years in this country.”
Asserts that the U.S. did not build a car plant for 44 years.18:47-18:51
“Their air force is gone. Their navy is gone. They have 159 ships. Every one of them is right now at the bottom of the sea.”
Asserts that Iran's military capabilities have been completely destroyed.23:39-23:49
“We produced more than 80 new ships for the Navy and Coast Guard.”
Asserts that over 80 new ships have been produced for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.23:42-23:45
“Drugs coming in by ocean and sea are down 97%.”
Asserts a 97% reduction in drugs entering the U.S. by sea.27:22-27:27
“With the Navy support, we captured the outlaw known as the dictator of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and won the war in exactly 148 days.”
Asserts that Nicolas Maduro was captured with Navy support and the war was won in 148 days.28:58-29:12
“The Republic of Korea has given us $150 billion recently.”
Asserts that South Korea has given the U.S. $150 billion recently.32:42-32:50
“They have no military shot. The whole place is shot.”
Asserts that Iran's military is ineffective or weakened.04:43-04:48
“They were the evil one. They were the bully of the Middle East. They're not so much the bully anymore.”
Asserts that Iran was previously a dominant force in the Middle East but is no longer.04:48-04:54
“We're getting along great with Venezuela. We're taking out billions and billions of dollars of oil.”
Asserts that the U.S. has a good relationship with Venezuela and is extracting significant oil resources.06:14-06:21
“Ontarill is investing $3.7 billion in a state of the art SH yard that will be known forever as Arsenal 2.”
Asserts that Ontarill is investing $3.7 billion in a new shipyard called Arsenal 2.09:48-09:57
“My administration has already secured over $76 billion in funding for shipbuilding.”
Asserts that $76 billion has been secured for U.S. shipbuilding.10:26-10:47
“The US Navy is also contributing an additional $2.9 billion to support the shipyard.”
Asserts that the US Navy is contributing $2.9 billion to support the shipyard.10:31-10:39
“This massive project will create over 3,100 new jobs right here in Mar and will support an additional 11,000 jobs across the nation.”
Asserts that the project will create over 3,100 new jobs locally and support 11,000 jobs nationally.10:52-11:03
“In my first term, we had the best economy that we've ever had.”
Asserts that the U.S. economy was at its best during Trump's first term.17:41-17:44
“We left with a stock market that was higher than it was at the beginning.”
Asserts that the stock market was higher at the end of Trump's term than at the beginning.17:48-17:54
“We have 81 times in a little more than a year and a half, 81 all-time stock market highs.”
Asserts that there were 81 all-time stock market highs in a year and a half.17:55-18:00
“$21 trillion being invested by others into our country.”
Asserts that $21 trillion has been invested in the U.S. by foreign entities.18:16-18:21
“Now we're building more car plants than we ever have in history.”
Asserts that the U.S. is currently building more car plants than ever before.18:51-18:55
“We have the chip industry moving back into our country.”
Asserts that the chip industry is returning to the U.S.19:58-20:01
“Not one ship has gotten through to Iran. The only ships that go through are the ones that we let go through.”
Asserts that the U.S. Navy controls all maritime traffic to Iran.22:57-23:03
“Their economy is in ruins. They have inflation like no other country anywhere in the world.”
Asserts that Iran's economy is severely damaged and experiencing extreme inflation.24:03-24:09
“Dozens of Iran's terrorist leaders have been blown out of existence.”
Asserts that numerous Iranian terrorist leaders have been killed.24:24-24:29
“We changed the name from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.”
Asserts that the Gulf of Mexico was renamed to the Gulf of America.28:25-28:30
“We have 93% of the coastline, they have 7.”
Asserts that the U.S. controls 93% of the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico, while Mexico controls 7%.28:40-28:44
“During their recent deployment, the sailors aboard the USS Billings alone helped intercept nearly three tons of illegal narcotics from the cartels.”
Asserts that the USS Billings intercepted nearly three tons of illegal narcotics.28:47-28:57
“Since taking office, we've secured commitments for money that nobody's ever thought even imaginable.”
Asserts that unprecedented financial commitments have been secured since taking office.32:34-32:41
“The Korean company Hanwha is spending billions of dollars to revitalize the historic shipyard in Philadelphia.”
Asserts that Hanwha is investing billions in a Philadelphia shipyard.32:57-33:05
“Hadrian manufacturing and the US Navy are investing 2.4 billion in Alabama.”
Asserts that $2.4 billion is being invested in Alabama by Hadrian manufacturing and the US Navy.33:08-33:14
“Saronic is investing $3.2 billion in Texas to build a new shipyard on the beautiful shores of the Gulf of America.”
Asserts that Saronic is investing $3.2 billion in a new Texas shipyard.33:15-33:24
“We're buying icebreakers from Finland. We're making them with them and also buying, buying them.”
Asserts that the U.S. is collaborating with Finland to make and purchase icebreakers.33:24-33:29
“We have never had a greater military.”
Asserts that the U.S. military is currently at its greatest strength.35:01-35:04