Donald Trump promised to expand America’s naval fleet to include 12 aircraft carriers as he trumpeted his plans for a major military build-up during a visit to a shipyard on Thursday.

This week, the White House announced it would be adding $54 billion (£43 billion) to the defence budget – about a 10 per cent increase.

With another of his key allies accused of inappropriate contacts with Russian officials, Mr Trump escaped the White House to don a Navy flight jacket and cap for a rally on board the Gerald R Ford. At $12.9 billion, America’s newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will be the most expensive ever built when it is commissioned this year.