Trump's Current Naval Fixation
President Trump has ordered that the future aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller be equipped with steam catapults instead of the modern electromagnetic systems used on other new ships. Experts warn that this reversal could lead to significant cost increases and construction delays.
Why it matters
The decision highlights a conflict between presidential preference and military engineering standards, with potential implications for defense spending and naval capabilities.
Why is the president obsessed with steam power?
Mark Gail / The Washington Post / Getty August 18, 2026, 5:54 PM ET Share Save This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.
Over the past nine years, Donald Trump has returned again and again to the concept of steam power. He loves the way that steam propels fighter jets off the decks of aircraft carriers, and he laments that the Navy has pivoted to electromagnetic launchers in its new ships. “That beautiful scene,” he rhapsodized at a rally in 2023: “That steam goes off, and that plane gets thrown the hell off; the power, beautiful. And it’s cheap!”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in