The Navy just deployed its $13 billion aircraft carrier, which was both commissioned and panned by Trump, who ranted: 'It just doesn't look right'

  • The US Navy's first-in-class aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, deployed Tuesday.

  • The massive ship cost $13 billion to build and comes with a slew of new technologies.

  • President Donald Trump once ranted about the ship's look, a book says.

The US Navy's most advanced aircraft carrier – which was commissioned and later critiqued by President Donald Trump, according to a book – deployed Tuesday from Norfolk, Virginia, to head to the Atlantic.

After years of delay and costly setbacks that amounted to a $13 billion price tag, the USS Gerald R. Ford set off on its first deployment, entering the competitive arena of naval ships from countries like Russia and China.

The ship comes with a slew of new technologies, including electromagnetic catapults that can launch planes and advanced weapons elevators that will move bombs and missiles up to the flight deck.

This is not only one of the most advanced aircraft carriers to enter the waters, surpassing the Navy's Nimitz-class carriers, but also the world's largest.

Its sheer size hasn't won over everyone, however. Trump was among the critics of the ship.

"Peril," a book by the Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, says Trump was often preoccupied by the carrier, with rants about the ship's high cost, as well as the placement of the flight command center on the flight deck.

"It just doesn't look right," Trump said, according to the book.

Congress members have also taken issue with the ship. Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia called the ship a "$13 billion nuclear-powered floating berthing barge."

Ford's deployment in the Atlantic Ocean will consist of military exercises involving about 9,000 personnel from nine countries, 20 ships, and 60 aircraft, according to the Navy.

Take a peek at the Navy's latest aircraft carrier:

An MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter lands on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford. Behind it is the flight command center, or the ship's "island," that Trump is said to have ranted about.

Helicopter lands on flight deck of USS Gerald R. Ford.
MC2 Jackson Adkins/Navy

A tugboat directs the USS Gerald R. Ford as it leaves the pier in Newport News, Virginia, on October 25, 2019.

Navy aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford
A tugboat directs the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford as it leaves the pier in Newport News, Virginia, October 25, 2019.US Navy/Mass Comm Specialist Seaman Cory J. Daut

Here's the empty flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford. The ship can hold about 75 aircraft, according to the Navy.

USS Gerald R. Ford
The USS Gerald R. Ford underway on its own power for the first time.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ridge Leoni

The Ford has a massive hangar bay.

USS Ford hangar bay
Daniel Brown/Business Insider

The advanced weapons elevators move ordnance, such as bombs and missiles, up to the flight deck.

USS Gerald R. Ford
Daniel Brown/Business Insider

Here's a view from the flight deck.

Flight deck of USS Ford
Daniel Brown/Business Insider

The ship is also equipped with multiple short-range antiaircraft and missile systems called Sea Sparrows.

USS Ford Sea Sparrow
Daniel Brown/Business Insider

Personnel navigate the ship from the bridge.

USS Ford
Daniel Brown/Business Insider

The lead helm digitally controls the speed and steering of the aircraft carrier.

USS Ford navigation
Daniel Brown/Business Insider

Here's how the Ford looks when it's loaded with aircraft on its flight deck.

USS Gerald R. Ford in ocean
The USS Gerald R. Ford set sail on Tuesday from Norfolk, Virginia.Navy

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