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A social media rumor claimed Trump demanded all Navy ships be equipped with sails and was considering adding cannons, which originated as satire and lacked credible sourcing.
reported by one outlet so far · Reported fact · first recorded Aug 21, 12:30 AM
How each outlet reported it
SnopesFact-checker · Aug 21, 12:01 AM
Facebook user Joe Kleinschmidt shared the image in his Anti-QAnon Memes group just before midnight Pacific time Aug. 15.
Cites: Joe Kleinschmidt · Details: Aug. 15; midnight Pacific time; Anti-QAnon Memes group
SnopesFact-checker · Aug 21, 12:01 AM
A group admin message indicated the image was 'photoshop work' and referenced 'Meme War Veteran' on Facebook as its source.
Cites: Joe Kleinschmidt, group admin · Details: photoshop work; Meme War Veteran
SnopesFact-checker · Aug 21, 12:01 AM
In August 2026, people shared a rumor that U.S. President Donald Trump demanded to equip all Navy ships with sails and considered adding cannons.
Details: August 2026; Navy ships; sails; cannons
SnopesFact-checker · Aug 21, 12:01 AM
On Aug. 16, an X user posted a graphic showing a ship with masts and sails with text reading 'Trump Demands All Navy Ships Equipped With Sails, Cannons Also Being Considered.'
Cites: @JamesTate121 · Details: Aug. 16; X user; Breaking News chyron
SnopesFact-checker · Aug 21, 12:01 AM
The story about sails and cannons spread in the days after Trump's memorandum about steam catapults.
Details: Aug. 13 memorandum; spread in days after
SnopesFact-checker · Aug 21, 12:01 AM
Search engines including Bing, DuckDuckGo and Google did not uncover credible reporting about Trump demanding or considering sails and cannons.
Details: Bing; DuckDuckGo; Google
SnopesFact-checker · Aug 21, 12:01 AM
The image graphic lacked a news media outlet name and displayed inauthenticity in its 'Breaking News' format.
Details: no outlet name; Breaking News; inauthenticity
SnopesFact-checker · Aug 21, 12:01 AM
The claim originated as satire based on its false and comedic nature.
Details: false; comedic nature; satire
SnopesFact-checker · Aug 21, 12:01 AM
The Meme War Veteran user confirmed creating a similar-looking template but denied involvement in making the image about Trump, sails and cannons.
Cites: The Meme War Veteran · Details: confirmed creating similar template; denied involvement
SnopesFact-checker · Aug 21, 12:01 AM
The image did not appear on The Meme War Veteran's page.
Details: image absent from user page