Trump orders Pentagon to redesign US aircraft carrier to use steam catapults to launch jets

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/13/trump-aircraft-carriers-steam-catapults

General Atomics, the company that builds the electromagnetic aircraft launch system for the Ford-class carriers, said Trump’s decision to revert to steam “warrants careful reconsideration”. The company told the Journal its work on the new ship is nearly 50% complete and “changing course now would introduce significant cost, schedule, and integration risks”.

Senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and a former astronaut, was more blunt in his reaction to the news.

“I’ve launched off the front of aircraft carriers hundreds of times, have a Master’s degree in aeronautical engineering, and am a test pilot and even I wouldn’t suggest to the Navy how to engineer specific systems on its ships,” Kelly wrote on social media. “Donald Trump should stick to what he knows best – ballrooms, bankruptcy, and bullshit.”

248 points · 87 comments · view on lemmy.world

87 Comments

BuckFutter@timeyak.com · 77 pts · 23h (11 replies)

“So I said, ‘What is this?’ ‘Sir, this is our digital catapult system’”, Trump went on. “It sounded bad to me. Digital. They have digital. What is digital? And it’s very complicated, you have to be Albert Einstein to figure it out. And I said – and now they want to buy more aircraft carriers – I said, ‘What system are you going to be’– ‘Sir, we’re staying with digital.’ I said, ‘No you’re not. You[’re] going to goddamned steam, the digital costs hundreds of millions of dollars more money and it’s no good’.”

A Guardian review of Trump’s public remarks shows that he has retold that story, with variations, every year since 2017.

The President of the United States folks…just wow…smh.

Soulphite@reddthat.com · 31 pts · 23h (1 reply)

Another grift on the backs of the citizens more than likely. Nay, positively. This pedophile's whole existence is a grift to the universe. Utter trash. It's atoms need to be vaporized as they don't belong.

quarkquasar@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 23h

And the no-bid contract goes to:... The Carrier Steam Company, established 2026, by Donald Trump Jr.

Totally above board, of course. Although the Chairman would be Donald Trump Sr. Which would be a conflict of interest, except the Supreme Court would decide it's not.

NekoKoneko@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 20h (1 reply)

You know he's just making it up when everyone says "sir" to him in his stories, but that's hardly better that this is just his version of how it should have went.

BuckFutter@timeyak.com · 3 pts · 20h

Exactly. Seems like there is a simple formula for this buffoonary. Sir…problem…incoherent nonsense…for every “problem” that he talks about.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 21h (2 replies)

This is the guy that thinks his "genetics" make him sooper smart, because he had an uncle who is even a perfesser!

S-M-R-T!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxNzuCCh1T8

BuckFutter@timeyak.com · 5 pts · 21h

He needs to be in a nursing home where it’s acceptable to shit your pants.

gnate@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 13h

Just imagine what he could have done with a father that loved him!

EntheoNaut@lemmy.ml · 8 pts · 22h (1 reply)

We all know magnets stop working if they get wet.

BuckFutter@timeyak.com · 15 pts · 22h

AppleTea@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 10h (1 reply)

I went into this assuming it had something to do with the US running out of rare earth minerals needed for magnetic systems.

Nope, just a weird bugbear the gameshow host won't let go of.

BuckFutter@timeyak.com · 1 pts · 24m

like so many of the "problems" he is "trying" to fix. Truly bizarre.

TheGoldenGod@lemmy.world · 49 pts · 22h (4 replies)

We can only pray for a Lisa Simpson. 🙏

wuffah@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 20h (3 replies)

This is completely unrealistic; this nation would never elect Lisa Simpson.

iamthetot@piefed.ca · 11 pts · 17h (2 replies)

Literally preferred a child rapist over a woman.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 14h

Twice.

NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io · 0 pts · 7h

Are y'all still going on about this? The (to oversimplify) racists voted for their racist candidate; the decent people didn't get a decent candidate to vote for so they voted less. The idea that either of them being women had anything to do with it is unmitigated bullshit.

Quacksalber@sh.itjust.works · 31 pts · 23h (2 replies)

They could just show him an AI generated video of an aircraft carrier with huge steam plumes every time a jet launches. They could get away with it.

Makeitstop@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 22h

Have it run SteamOS. Bam it is now Steam powered.

TribblesBestFriend@startrek.website · 4 pts · 22h

Or called the electromagnetic one : Trump's steam catapult 2.0 really advance

minorkeys@sh.itjust.works · 22 pts · 19h (2 replies)

Remember, this president suggested injecting bleach to cure COVID....he should have been severely punished for encouraging ppl to kill themselves.

Olgratin_Magmatoe@slrpnk.net · 5 pts · 18h (1 reply)

Did anybody end up doing it? I wouldn't be surprised, but I've not seen any news stories since that shit show.

TryingToBeGood@reddthat.com · 9 pts · 17h

I do recall that poison centers saw an uptick in calls from people taking the animal version of ivermectin.

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/09/04/1034217306/ivermectin-overdose-exposure-cases-poison-control-centers

oh wait:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2766883

some of this was people washing their food with bleach, some was people actually ingesting it after drumpfuck's press conference

xenomor@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 17h (2 replies)

I’m not a fan of Kelly, but “ballrooms, bankruptcy, and bullshit” is a good line.

janewaydidnothingwrong@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 13h (1 reply)

What are your qualms if you don't mind me asking? Is it the military aspect?

3abas@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 12h

That would be enough. He's also a proud Zionist, which should be enough to exclude anyone from polite society, but that's half the fucking population that needs their moral compass replaced.

sylver_dragon@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 23h (1 reply)

I can already see the malicious compliance gears in motion:

"Yes, sir!"
The Naval CNO creates a project, codename "Ouroboros". With the stated goal of replacing EMALS with steam. The project is assigned to whichever Colonel is on the shit list who is tasked with the feasibility study and creating the RFI.

3 years later

The whole thing is shit-canned by the next President.

kboos1@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 22h

We can only hope.

Stall it with bureaucracy

resipsaloquitur@lemmy.cafe · 20 pts · 23h (4 replies)

The Insane Clown Posse could not be reached for comment by the time of publication.

BuckFutter@timeyak.com · 11 pts · 23h (2 replies)

Ironic to see ICP being mentioned today, was just talking about them from when I listened to them in the 90’s. They seem to have more common sense than the clown mentioned above.

Fluke@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 6h (1 reply)

Plus a lot more self awareness and a seemingly genuine desire to be better, if the interviews I've read of late are even halfway truthful.

"Younger me was a fool and a sheep, and I won't hide from that." In essence. Credit where it's due.

BuckFutter@timeyak.com · 1 pts · 22m

yah I had read the same and was genuinely surprised to hear it. Based upon their music you wouldn't think so, but people find all types of creative ways to express their emotions and feelings, etc...

bajabound@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 19h

Did they ever solve the mystery of magnets?

YurkshireLad@lemmy.ca · 17 pts · 23h (4 replies)

He’s desperately trying to bankrupt the country and destroy its power and capability.

oppy1984@lemdro.id · 16 pts · 22h

I can't say for certain that he's a Russian agent, but it is concerning how many things he does coincide with what a Russian agent would do.

Almacca@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 15h

He's not trying to bankrupt the country. He's trying to rob it blind. Bankruptcy is just a by-product. It's how he does business.

Mirshe@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 20h

Oh nah, if this is anything, it's another push to expand the military budget in ANOTHER bid to privatize the military, something he and his have been on for years.

NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io · 1 pts · 7h

Oh shit I might actually have to start rooting for him then.

Archimedes@sh.itjust.works · 12 pts · 19h (2 replies)

Why not make the whole carrier steam powered?

Burninator05@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 18h (1 reply)

I mean, it kinda already is when you get to the bottom of it.

Archimedes@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 18h

Everything is steam powered when you apply that logic.

rogsson@piefed.social · 11 pts · 20h (3 replies)

So remind me why a retard with no knowledge about anything, has any say about anything? Let experts be experts, and pedo retards die in their piss.

Archimedes@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 20h (2 replies)

The glorious leader is the ultimate expert in all things

TryingToBeGood@reddthat.com · 2 pts · 17h (1 reply)

unfortunately, one of his brain dead sons, I forget which, actually said something to that effect, that "the president is the smartest person in the room" (regarding hiring/appointing advisors, as I recall. He basically said no one could contradict the president--about anything).

I'm sure we all remember Deborah Birx's pained expression when he was spouting that bullshit about bleach during the pandemic. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/26/birx-trump-disinfectant-coronavirus-00027776

Aqarius@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 7h

That's actually a very telling statement: If nobody can tell you you're wrong, that means you're right - which means if you tell me I'm wrong and I force you to shut up, it means I become right.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 10 pts · 10h

Remember folks: this is how he makes money.

He's not stupid. He's using his power to pour more taxpayer dollars into private companies owned by him and his buddies. This is what theft and abuse of power looks like.

Almacca@aussie.zone · 8 pts · 20h (4 replies)

I disagree with Senator Kelly. Trump knows fuck-all about ballrooms.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 1 pts · 10h (3 replies)

It sounds like you don't have a pee fetish.

He designs ballrooms for folks with pee fetishes

Almacca@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 10h (2 replies)

I am ashamed to admit that I do not, indeed, have a pee fetish.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 2 pts · 10h (1 reply)

It's an acquired taste. Particularly popular among billionaires pedophiles

Almacca@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 10h

Weirdos.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 22h (2 replies)

This timeline is so fucking stupid that I wish we could bring back the r-word to refer to this administration, those that support it, and most importantly, their god-emperor that they all worship.

FFS. This stupid dipshit keeps "ordering" stuff and people just comply. Even asshole conservatives that should know better when it comes to reality.

When our modern Caligula orders that they do battle against Neptune, will they also comply?

https://lairofmythics.com/blogs/ancient-medieval-legends/caligula-vs-neptune

MBech@feddit.dk · 8 pts · 20h (1 reply)

Retarded is the perfect way to discribe everything about this. I don't care that some may find it offensive on behalf of some other people. The people who voted for the criminal rapist, fraudster and pedophile are fucking retarded.

Redditmodstouchgrass@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 18h

The fight against that word has always been stupid. Calling someone stupid or a moron or an idiot is literally the same as calling someone retarded, but we're okay with all those words. "OH but saying retarded is worse", by what metric? You're still saying the person is mentally deficient. That they're incapable of performing basic thought processes and tasks.

I have never once heard someone with those problems say that they felt any of those words hurt less.

NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io · 7 pts · 23h (1 reply)

Comrade Trump doing what he can to sabotage the American war machine.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 21h

The very same dipshit talking about making "trump class battleships".

minorkeys@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 19h (5 replies)

Elect idiots, get idiotic decisions. Elections matter, who you elect matters, handing executive authority to an idiot matters. The American right just gave up thinking and votes their feelings, which is how you elect conmen.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 17h (4 replies)

Whole lotta people feel they have to fall in love with the Democratic option or else they check out, though.

Which I just find infuriating, but people select their "leadership" by some of the stupidest monkey-level criteria, like how tall they are, or how handsome they are.

Sigh.

Almacca@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 15h (2 replies)

Dave Barry had a theory that Americans always elect the candidate with the best hair. He made that observation when Clinton was president, though. Not sure if that still holds up.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 11h (1 reply)

best hair

Hm, interesting theory and sounds just like something he'd say, LOL.

Between Gore and W - not really sure there? Probably Gore, but then he did win the popular vote (and probably the election, too).

W and Kerry - Kerry definitely had the better hair. Maybe the election was rigged?

Obama and McCain - okay, I guess the theory holds.

Obama and Romney - hm, Romney probably had an edge there.

Hillary vs. Trump - LOL, Donvict's combover vs. Hillary? Pretty obvious there. I don't think people are matching up men/women on things like hair anyway. But she did win the popular vote, so....?

Trump vs. Biden - heh, well Biden had plugs or something done way back when and he didn't have much to work with. As ridiculous as Trump's hair is as a general rule, I could see how most people would come down on Trump's side. Maybe this is why Donvict thinks it is rigged? 🤣

Kamala vs. Trump - well Kamala definitely has the better hair.

Yeah, I'm not sure it holds up all that well. The height thing seems to work a bit better...with recent outliers being Kerry v. Bush.

I have to LOL at Wikipedia listing Donvict as 6' 3", BTW There is no fucking way that guy is that tall. How many men go from 6' 2" to 6' 3" later in life? I don't even believe the 6' 2", in fact I'm quite sure he is exactly the kind of man that would wear elevator shoes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heights_of_presidents_and_presidential_candidates_of_the_United_States

Almacca@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 10h

I appreciate you doing the research. Clearly, everything is all topsy-turvey and the rules don't apply any more.

minorkeys@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 12h

No disagreement here.

areakode@riskeratspizza.com · 7 pts · 20h (2 replies)

Sort of like how he is having a new battleship be designed. Battleships have been mostly obsolete since the 1950s...

postmateDumbass@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 17h (1 reply)

These are the latest designs the Kremlin could provide.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 17h

Donvict will probably have to dismantle Smithsonian for doing "woke" things like telling about the history of another vanity naval project, the Vasa:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bizarre-story-vasa-ship-keeps-giving-180964328/

RedstoneValley@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 22h

Oh wow, not the onion.

TryingToBeGood@reddthat.com · 5 pts · 18h (5 replies)

just when I think drumpfuck has said the stupidest thing ever, he outdoes himself and says something even stupider.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 17h (3 replies)

He's just a steampunk fanboi.

postmateDumbass@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 16h (1 reply)

Quick, someone convince him they should use steam powered trebuchets.

ZombieMantis@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 16h

They'll have to pretty soon, once the last of our munitions are wasted blowing up Iranian Schoolgirls.

Professorozone@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 13h

Hey, don't lump him in with me!

Funkt4st1c@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 12h

I used to think it was just shock and awe, but i think he legitimately is just that dangerously stupid and self important

switcheroo@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 18h

The orange pedo probably watched some dumb old movie and got the idea stuck on his pudding brain, hence this stupid ass crap...

SeeMarkFly@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 23h (1 reply)

He's just out to WASTE as much money as fast as he can.'

IT'S WORKING.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 1 pts · 10h

It's not a waste (to him) if his wallet gets fatter

wuffah@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 20h (1 reply)

I get annoyed when I forget something upstairs. This guy wants to start over a half-built aircraft carrier.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 1 pts · 10h

It's a great way to transfer more wealth from taxpayers into his own pockets

homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 22h

Jaysus fookin Christ

benderbeerman@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 20h

Rather Gutsy of him to deny General Atomics like that... doesn't take a Robobrain to figure out where this is all going

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 21h

ballrooms, bankruptcy, and bullshit.

Ah, so that alliteration goes well with the "Big [Beastly] Bill" that they kept going on about. That phrase: ballrooms, bankruptcy and bullshit should be how donvict is remembered, and would make a great bumper sticker.

kreskin@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 5h

Sure why not. Lets bring back biplanes too.

stumu415@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 10h

Meanwhile in China where they believe in science and innovation:

https://nextgendefense.com/chinese-carrier-electromagnetic-catapult/

kboos1@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 22h (1 reply)

It takes like 10 years to build a super carrier so plenty of time to change the design after Trump is gone and cost Americans billions to do so.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 1 pts · 10h

That's $$$$ for his family and rich friends

altphoto@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 18h

Don't forget your broom sticks 🧹. That is the standard way of detecting stray high power laser beams and invisible steam jets that can cut you in half!

savvie@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 19h

Catch 47

HairyHarry@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 23h
[ removed ]
betanumerus@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 6m

genius says digital systems are too complicated ...