Presidential interest in a "bigger" ship, not naval strategy, spawned the concept for a massive, $14 billion battleship. This political project forces the Navy into a budgetary dilemma, potentially sacrificing next-generation aircraft for a single, expensive surface combatant that may not meet its actual strategic needs.
The argument that "America has always been like this" is flawed. Figures who once appeared to be moderate have undergone a distinct shift in public behavior and ideology. This is not a repeat of Reagan or Bush-era politics but a new phenomenon affecting America's global standing and internal functions.
While Americans may become desensitized to a president's unconventional statements, allies like Australia do not see it as a joke. They interpret threats to treaty obligations as genuine disrespect and aggression, compelling them to develop independent defense strategies and fundamentally altering geopolitical relationships built over decades.
A senior U.S. official treating a vital intelligence conference with Five Eyes partners as a personal vacation, prioritizing entertainment over substance, illustrates a profound cultural shift. This behavior actively damages crucial intelligence-sharing relationships, with allies viewing it as a threat to their security.
The 8A program, designed to support disadvantaged businesses, is now used by Pentagon units to bypass the slow, official contracting process. While enabling mission completion under tight deadlines set by Congress, this workaround introduces massive inefficiency, as units pay a significant premium for speed, highlighting a fundamentally broken system.
Funded via a reconciliation bill with broad definitions, the "Golden Dome" missile defense project lacks a clear plan and rapid contracting. This delay makes its massive budget vulnerable to being reallocated for other purposes, risking an outcome similar to the California high-speed rail—a project with huge funding but little to show for it.
Historian Bruce Catton portrays General George McClellan, the "tech bro of his day," as a brilliant engineer promoted rapidly but too risk-averse to be an effective commander. His story serves as a counterargument to the modern idea that simply elevating technically skilled individuals will produce better military leaders without experiential learning.
After the Cold War, the Navy prioritized efficiency with a standardized Super Hornet air wing, sacrificing the specialized long-range capabilities of aircraft like the A-6. To counter modern threats, it's now diversifying again, using unmanned aircraft like the MQ-25 refueler and combat drones to restore range and relevance.
Aircraft carriers replaced battleships as the centerpiece of naval power because their planes could strike targets from farther away than any ship's guns. This "range advantage" principle is now being challenged by land-based anti-ship ballistic missiles that can outrange carrier air wings, questioning the carrier's modern relevance.
Trump's comedic style is a direct imitation of Johnny Carson's deadpan delivery. This allows him to effectively land jokes and control narratives, even when punching down. The political opposition often disarms itself by failing to recognize or counter his humor, which contrasts sharply with the scripted jokes of other recent leaders.