{"id":2644703,"date":"2026-08-13T21:09:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T01:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mark-kelly-rips-trump-over-reported-aircraft-carrier-overhaul\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T21:14:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T01:14:00","slug":"mark-kelly-rips-trump-over-reported-aircraft-carrier-overhaul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mark-kelly-rips-trump-over-reported-aircraft-carrier-overhaul\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Kelly rips Trump over reported aircraft carrier overhaul"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmark-kelly-rips-trump-over-reported-aircraft-carrier-overhaul%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2644703&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona criticized President Donald Trump for reportedly signing a memorandum to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >revert navy aircraft carrier launch systems<\/a> from electromagnetic catapults to steam and hydraulic systems. Kelly, a Navy veteran and aeronautical engineer, emphasized that he would not advise the Navy on ship engineering, highlighting the complexity and cost of the electromagnetic systems used on Ford-class carriers like the Gerald R. Ford, John F. Kennedy, and Enterprise. Trump&#8217;s memorandum aims to overhaul the Navy\u2019s shipbuilding approach, citing concerns that the electromagnetic systems are &#8220;too complex&#8221; and costly, and promising a return to steam technology as part of his long-standing critique. The directive could potentially cost billions and requires the next Ford-class carrier, the Doris Miller, to be constructed with steam launch and elevator systems, reflecting a shift from advanced electromagnetic technology to older, less complex systems.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mark-kelly\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3448\">Mark Kelly<\/a> (D-AZ) on Thursday tore into President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> for reportedly signing a memorandum directing the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/navy\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"602\">Navy<\/a> to switch fighter jet launch systems aboard aircraft carriers, a move that is likely to come with a hefty paycheck.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kelly made the comments in response to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/us-news\/trump-orders-navy-to-restore-old-technology-in-aircraft-carriers-costing-billions-0055ec1b\">reporting<\/a> by the <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> that Trump is ordering the Navy change from electromagnetic catapult systems for fighter jets to steam catapults. Kelly, a Navy veteran, said the president shouldn\u2019t advise outside areas of his expertise.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4687173\/mark-kelly-trump-aircraft-carriers-steam-launch\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mark Kelly rips Trump over reported aircraft carrier overhaul, says stick to \u2018bulls***\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4686970\/uss-abraham-lincoln-condition-misrepresent-hegseth-sailor-family-member-texts\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Dire conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln are \u2018completely misrepresented\u2019: Hegseth<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4686593\/centcom-launches-new-multiuse-defense-drones\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>CENTCOM launches new multiuse defense drones<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve launched off the front of aircraft carriers hundreds of times, have a Master\u2019s degree in aeronautical engineering, and am a test pilot and even I wouldn\u2019t suggest to the Navy how to engineer specific systems on its ships,\u201d Kelly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenMarkKelly\/status\/2088022491302334893\">said<\/a>. \u201cDonald Trump should stick to what he knows best \u2014 ballrooms, bankruptcy, and bulls***.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Thursday, Trump signed a memorandum titled \u201cRebuilding the United States Navy and America\u2019s Shipbuilding Industrial Base,\u201d which directed War Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1991\">Pete Hegseth <\/a>and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to provide the president with a plan to switch out the newer, more complex launch systems with steam and hydraulic systems and weapons elevators.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump has a long history of being critical of the electromagnetic systems, often calling them \u201ctoo complex.\u201d The systems are in place on <em>Gerald R. Ford<\/em>-class carriers, which include the <em>Ford<\/em>, <em>John F. Kennedy<\/em>, and <em>Enterprise<\/em> vessels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBillions of dollars \u200bmore they spent on electric \u200bcatapults \u2060and they\u2019re not good. They\u2019re not nearly as good, too complex,\u201d the president said at a defense conference in Pennsylvania in July.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump used similar language in his recent memorandum, which fulfills a promise the president made nearly 10 years ago in which he promised to revert to steam systems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4686970\/uss-abraham-lincoln-condition-misrepresent-hegseth-sailor-family-member-texts\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4686970\/uss-abraham-lincoln-condition-misrepresent-hegseth-sailor-family-member-texts\/\">DIRE CONDITIONS ON USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN ARE \u2018COMPLETELY MISREPRESENTED\u2019: HEGSETH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe United States Navy has experienced a series of shipbuilding setbacks stemming from overly complex designs and iterative design change procedures, which have resulted in cost growth, delays, and cancellations,\u201d the directive said in its opening.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the<em> Wall Street Journal<\/em>, Trump\u2019s directive could cost billions of dollars and will require the next ship in the <em>Ford<\/em> class, named the <em>Doris Miller<\/em>, to be built with steam catapults and weapons elevators. All other ships added to the class will also use steam systems under the president\u2019s directive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kelly criticizes Trump\u2019s Navy jet launch system switch plan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2644704,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2268851526-copy-e1784666057130.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[37854,35898,4505,5894,3634],"class_list":["post-2644703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-aircraft-carrier","tag-mark-kelly","tag-military","tag-politics","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2268851526-copy-e1784666057130.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2644703"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2644707,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644703\/revisions\/2644707"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2644704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2644703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2644703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2644703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}