Trump’s Dreams for a Battleship Led to His Navy Secretary’s Ouster

New York Times
by Greg Jaffe and Helene Cooper
April 23, 2026
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2 min read

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President Trump's push for a new battleship program led to the ouster of Navy Secretary John Phelan.

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President Trump's aspirations for a new battleship program directly led to the ouster of his Navy secretary, John Phelan. Phelan was tasked with an ambitious goal to deliver the first of these presidential ships by 2028, a timeline described as nearly impossible. This development highlights the challenges within the Trump administration regarding defense procurement and the feasibility of presidential directives. The incident underscores potential friction between the President's vision and the practical realities faced by Pentagon leadership.

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