Overview
- Speaking aboard the USS George Washington in Yokosuka, Trump pledged to order steam catapults and hydraulic elevators on new carriers, drawing audible approval from some sailors.
- The White House offered no further comment, leaving it unclear whether an executive order will actually be issued or how it would be implemented.
- EMALS and Advanced Arresting Gear are installed and operational on the USS Gerald R. Ford after earlier test troubles documented by auditors, even as China showcases electromagnetic catapults on its Fujian carrier.
- Defense analysts say reverting to steam would require extensive redesigns and redevelopment because steam catapult production lines have long been shut down, likely costing billions and disrupting shipbuilding.
- Trump also claimed a glass of water could disable magnets, a statement widely refuted by engineers, and the viral clip prompted fresh public questions about his health following his recent MRI disclosure.