Trump Is Bringing Steam Catapults Back to Ford-Class Carriers
None Detected
How They Deceive You
Propaganda
Title states a factual policy shift with no loaded language or distortion present.
Main Device
None Detected
No rhetorical manipulation or framing techniques appear in the provided title.
Archetype
Military procurement realist
Focuses on practical engineering trade-offs in naval aviation hardware rather than ideology.
Straight reporting — title announces a specific technical reversal without spin or selective emphasis.
Writer's Worldview
“Military procurement realist”
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Narrative Analysis
The RedState article delivers a clear, fact-based account of a Trump administration directive on carrier design, with supportive framing that does not alter the underlying facts.
Core Reporting
The piece correctly identifies the action taken: a National Security Presidential Memorandum directing the Pentagon to develop a plan for steam catapults and hydraulic systems on the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81), the fourth Ford-class carrier. It explicitly notes the scope is limited to future construction rather than retrofitting ships already in service.
- The article distinguishes between the current order and any broader fleet-wide change, quoting the requirement for a 60-day plan on timelines and resources.
- It references the president's long-standing criticism of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) without claiming the memo immediately reverses existing installations.
- The embedded White House statement and timeline details align with publicly released information on the memorandum.
Framing and Presentation
The article adds positive context around restoring “maritime dominance” and traditional systems, consistent with its editorial perspective. This interpretive layer does not misstate the memo’s content or invent outcomes. No material details about the policy’s limits or implementation steps appear to be omitted.
Source Context
RedState, owned by Salem Media Group, routinely covers defense procurement from a conservative viewpoint. In this instance the reporting stays within verifiable elements of the directive rather than expanding into unsubstantiated claims.
Bottom Line
The article functions as a straightforward policy summary with an approving tone. Its accuracy on the memorandum’s terms and boundaries makes it reliable for readers seeking the basic facts, while the added emphasis reflects the outlet’s usual stance rather than any distortion of the record.
Neutral Rewrite
Here's how this article reads with loaded language removed and missing context included.
Trump Directs Review of Steam Catapults for Next Ford-Class Carrier
President Trump signed a national security presidential memorandum on August 13, 2026, directing the Department of Defense to develop a plan for installing steam-powered catapults and hydraulic weapons elevators on the fourth Ford-class aircraft carrier, the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81), which remains under construction. The order assigns Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in coordination with the Secretary of the Navy, 60 days to submit timelines, cost estimates, and resource requirements for replacing the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and advanced weapons elevators on that hull.
The memorandum does not require immediate removal of EMALS from carriers already in service. It focuses on design changes for the Doris Miller and potential application to future Ford-class ships. A White House statement described the directive as part of broader efforts to expand commercial shipbuilding capacity, develop a domestic workforce, and increase U.S. maritime production.
Trump has publicly criticized EMALS since at least 2019. During his first term he stated that steam catapults had operated reliably for decades and cited reported cost overruns and reliability shortfalls associated with the electromagnetic system. Navy program documents from the Ford-class development period projected reduced aircraft stress, lower manning requirements, and higher sortie rates with EMALS, but subsequent testing identified repeated failures in the power conversion and launch subsystems that delayed operational testing.
The memorandum also authorizes exploration of a shipbuilding approach modeled on Finnish practices, under which an established foreign yard would construct initial vessels while U.S. shipyards receive investment and training to assume later production. No specific foreign contracts or ship classes have been named in the released text.
Navy officials have not yet released a formal response or revised acquisition schedule. The Ford-class program has experienced repeated schedule slips and cost growth since the lead ship, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), began construction in 2009. EMALS and the advanced arresting gear remain installed on the first three ships of the class.
The memorandum does not alter current fleet maintenance plans or direct retrofits to existing carriers. Implementation details, including any changes to the Doris Miller construction contract, will depend on the plan submitted within the 60-day window.
Investigation Log · 21 steps
Starting investigation...
Investigating RedState
Investigating Teri Christoph
Source: Teri Christoph
Teri Christoph is a writer, podcaster, and media professional whose work appears on RedState and previously at The Daily Caller News Foundation. She is one of the original founders of Smart Girl Politics and has described herself on LinkedIn as an experienced media sales and political communications professional with a University of Maryland background. She has recently joined the team at Fox Business’ Mornings with Maria.
Source: RedState
RedState is a political blog launched in 2004 that publishes news and opinion content, owned by Salem Media Group, a conservative media company. Its articles frequently address military and defense topics from the site's editorial perspective. No independent fact-check ratings appear in the source material.
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Confirm historical facts on EMALS issues and Trump's past statements
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Neutral rewrite ready
**Investigation complete.** The article reports a verifiable policy action accurately. Trump did sign the August 13, 2026 National Security Presidential Memorandum directing the Navy to plan steam catapults and hydraulic elevators for the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) and future Ford-class carriers. Multiple outlets (USNI News, Reuters, WSJ, Breaking Defense) confirm the details, the 60-day planning requirement, and the broader shipbuilding elements. Trump's decade-long public criticism of EMALS—citing cost overruns, complexity, and reliability—is also factually grounded in his 2017–2019 statements. RedState (Salem Media Group) and author Teri Christoph operate from a conservative perspective, visible in the positive framing and promotional editor's note. However, the core claims, timeline, and technical distinctions (no retrofits to existing carriers) hold up without distortion or material omissions. This is straightforward reporting with expected outlet tone rather than manipulation.
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