Trump Orders Navy to Tear Up Ships to Fulfill His Crazy Steam Fantasy

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Donald Trump is ordering the Navy to stop using an electromagnetic catapult system to launch fighter jets from its aircraft carriers and return to the age of steam.

The White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/rebuilding-the-united-states-navy-and-americas-shipbuilding-industrial-base/" rel="" target="_self" title="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/rebuilding-the-united-states-navy-and-americas-shipbuilding-industrial-base/">announced Thursday that the president had signed a national security memorandum to install steam catapults on the Gerald R. Ford class of carriers, with the first change occurring on the Doris Miller, the fourth ship in the planned Ford fleet.

Experts have warned that the move will cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

The Navy and industry leaders have long opposed returning to steam catapults because of the eye-watering cost involved.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-orders-navy-to-tear-up-ships-to-fulfill-his-crazy-steam-fantasy/">Read more at The Daily Beast.