The rumor gained traction following a presidential directive instructing the Pentagon to overhaul the design of upcoming Navy aircraft carriers.
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid ongoing discussions regarding living conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, a viral social media post claimed that President Donald Trump has issued an order requiring US Navy vessels to be retrofitted with sails, alongside potential plans to reintroduce cannons. This absurd premise quickly triggered widespread amusement and debate online, prompting a closer look at its authenticity.
The Rumor: Trump Orders Sails and Weighs Cannons for US Warships
The narrative originated on X, accompanied by a manipulated image depicting a massive modern warship outfitted with a traditional mast and canvas sails.
The graphic featured simulated “Live” and “Breaking News” banners, with a headline proclaiming, “Trump Demands All Navy Ships Equipped With Sails, Cannons Also Being Considered.”
From there, the post crossed over to Facebook and Instagram, collectively racking up over a million views.
While many users immediately questioned whether the story was real, the sheer volume of engagement necessitated a formal verification.
Verification: Zero Evidence Supports the Allegation
Ultimately, investigations confirm that the president made no such statement, rendering the viral claim entirely false. Neither official White House announcements nor the administration’s communication channels contain any record of such a policy. Furthermore, no verified social media accounts belonging to Trump reference the idea.
A development of this magnitude would naturally attract major media coverage, yet comprehensive searches yield no legitimate news reports detailing plans to equip the Navy with age-of-sail technology.
Additionally, a closer inspection of the graphic reveals that despite its news-style overlays, it lacks the branding or logo of any recognized media organization.
Given its comical premise, the viral post is almost certainly a piece of satire designed purely for online engagement.
Background: Trump’s Actual Push for Steam Catapults
The satirical rumor likely found inspiration in recent headlines regarding a real presidential directive: Trump instructed the Pentagon to revert to steam-powered catapults instead of electromagnetic launch systems for the Navy’s future aircraft carriers.
This decision aligns with longstanding criticisms Trump has leveled against high-tech naval systems since 2017, frequently arguing that newer technology is overly complex and unnecessarily expensive.
Recalling a past discussion with Time magazine, Trump remarked, “So I said, ‘What is this?’ ‘Sir, this is our digital catapult system.’ 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.”
“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,’” he added.