Navy Reportedly Considering Naming Aircraft Carrier After Trump Instead Of Black Navy War Hero

The United States Navy is reportedly reconsidering a historic decision to name an aircraft carrier after Doris Miller, a Black sailor whose heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor made him an American icon. According to sources familiar with internal Navy discussions, the service branch is weighing whether to rename the vessel after President Donald Trump instead, a move that would represent an unprecedented departure from military naming conventions and raise questions about the administration's approach to military honors and historical recognition.

Miller's story represents a defining moment in both World War II and American military history. As a mess attendant serving aboard the USS Arizona during the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Miller was not trained to operate anti-aircraft weaponry. Yet when Japanese forces struck, he took command of a gun he had never been formally instructed to use, firing at attacking aircraft and downing at least one enemy plane. Beyond combat, Miller risked his life to rescue wounded American sailors, exemplifying the values the military service is meant to embody. His actions were so extraordinary that he became the first Black sailor to receive the Navy Cross, a decoration for heroism in combat.

The decision to name the Ford-class aircraft carrier after Miller in January 2020 marked the first time in United States history that an active-duty carrier would bear the name of a Black service member. The announcement came during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at Pearl Harbor, with then-Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly emphasizing Miller's significance as an American sailor whose uniform reflected the ideals the Navy aspires to represent, transcending considerations of race or background.

Now, according to CNN reporting, the Trump administration is exploring renaming the ship instead. Two of three sources who discussed the matter with the outlet indicated that serious consideration is being given to honoring the current president. Such action would be unprecedented, as military tradition has historically avoided naming active-duty vessels after sitting presidents. The proposal raises fundamental questions about military priorities and the values the service seeks to commemorate through its naming practices.

The potential change represents part of a broader pattern within the current administration's approach to military nomenclature and honors. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously directed the renaming of military vessels and bases, including ordering the redesignation of the USNS Harvey Milk, a ship named after a Navy veteran and civil rights advocate. Hegseth has implemented various policy changes described as efforts to refocus the military on what his office calls the "warrior ethos" and align the armed forces with what officials characterize as the administration's priorities.

According to reporting from NBC News, the Navy is considering alternative options for honoring Miller, including designating another warship to bear his name and recommending him for the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration for valor. Dorie Miller's family, however, was not informed in advance of these potential changes. Miller's great-nephew Thomas Bledsoe noted that the family has pursued the Medal of Honor recommendation for years and called the renewed effort toward that recognition positive, even as uncertainty surrounds the aircraft carrier's naming.

The decision over the carrier's ultimate designation rests with acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and Defense Secretary Hegseth, whose leadership will determine whether the ship honors a decorated American hero from the World War II generation or a contemporary political figure.

Source: NewsOne | Published: Sat, 22 Aug 2026 16:38:22

Image: Photo by Sung Jin Cho on Unsplash