Lounging around the pool this summer, Hugh Hewitt must’ve picked up a copy of The Influence of Sea Power upon History, that 20th century classic that inspired kings, presidents, and Kaisers to bankrupt their countries in order to build hulking naval fleets.
Blinded by nautical delusions of grandeur, Hewitt wants Trump to build a second Greater White Fleet. If the president stays the course, the conservative radio host writes in the Washington Post, his coalition will hold fast. And if Trump builds “350 ships, it will prosper.” And that’s ridiculous.
Conservatives didn’t back Republicans for the last eight years because they wanted a couple of new battleships. They showed up to the polls because they wanted to turn the country around.
Granted, rebuilding the military is necessary. Trump promised to rebuild the fleet and the Department of Defense has been saying for years that they need a hand in the Navy. According to the latest 2016 assessment, the Navy announced it needed a minimum of a 355-ship fleet up from the 274 vessels sailing today.
But bulking up nautically won’t help the administration electorally. A big fleet circumnavigating the globe might give voters peace of mind and a sense of security. No matter how impressive, though, those faraway battleships will not simplify the tax code, turn around the economy, or reduce health insurance premiums.
Fantasizing about big ships is fun for little kids at the beach and establishment shock jocks. It is not, however, the kind of agenda that voters in fly-over states expect from Trump. If the White House takes Hewitt’s advice, it could well sink this presidency.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
