What’s with Trump’s war against the US Navy?

# Analysis The Trump administration's challenges to established naval doctrine represent a fundamental shift in how the U.S. projects power in contested waters, with consequences that extend far beyond military circles. If the administration succeeds in redirecting Navy operations or legitimizing expansive claims over strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one-third of global maritime trade passes—it could destabilize the international legal framework that has underpinned regional commerce and security for decades. Adversaries including China and Russia have long sought to carve out spheres of maritime influence; any weakening of U.S. commitment to established navigation rights would invite them to do the same, potentially fragmenting global shipping routes along geopolitical lines. For American consumers and businesses, this could translate into higher shipping costs, supply chain disruptions, and reduced access to global markets—effects that would ripple through energy prices, manufacturing competitiveness, and trade-dependent industries long before any military confrontation materialized.