Navy reviews aircraft carrier designs to match Trump's aesthetic preferences

The U.S. Navy is reviewing the design of its next‑generation aircraft carriers to make them more in line with President Donald Trump’s aesthetic preferences. The review was announced in Washington, D.C., after Trump repeatedly urged the Navy to build “big, bright, flashy” ships that would showcase American power. The Navy’s internal study will consider changes to the flight‑deck layout, the superstructure, and the paint scheme of the planned Ford‑class carriers, which are slated to replace the aging Nimitz fleet.

Trump’s comments come after a long‑running debate over the Navy’s carrier program. The Ford‑class carriers, the first of a new design, were announced in 2017 with a projected cost of about $13.3 billion per ship and a total of ten vessels. Trump, who campaigned on modernizing the military, has criticized the Navy’s “old‑school” approach and called for a more visible and powerful presence at sea. The review follows a series of public statements in which the president said he wanted a carrier that would “shine” and “command attention” in the same way his campaign slogans did.

The proposed changes could add a bright paint scheme, larger “pylons” for aircraft launch, or a more aggressive hull shape. A study by the Naval Sea Systems Command estimates that each redesign could cost an extra $200 million and push the launch date of the first new carrier by 18 to 24 months. Some lawmakers and defense analysts worry that the changes could inflate the budget beyond the $130 billion already allocated. Navy officials say the review is meant to keep the program on track, but they have acknowledged that any major alterations will require additional approvals from the Secretary of Defense and Congress.

The next step is to submit the review findings to the Secretary of Defense, who will decide whether to adopt the changes and seek congressional approval. If approved, the redesign could alter the construction schedule for the next carrier, potentially affecting the Navy’s readiness cycle. The decision will also signal how much influence a president’s personal style can have on strategic military assets, a question that will resonate with lawmakers, defense contractors, and the public as the U.S. prepares to maintain naval dominance in a shifting global landscape.