Navy Reportedly In Talks To Name New Ship After Trump Instead Of Black WWII Hero

Aug 21, 2026 · 4 min read

Topline

U.S. Navy officials are considering naming an under-construction aircraft carrier after President Donald Trump, according to two reports, in a move that would undo plans to name the vessel after World War 2 hero Doris Miller—the first Black sailor to be awarded the Navy Cross.

Doris Miller was the first African American service member to be awarded the Navy Cross medal.

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Key Facts

The plans were first reported by CNN, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the talks, which said discussions are ongoing to change the name of the USS Doris Miller.

The report noted that there have been “internal conversations” after naming the Ford-class aircraft carrier after Trump instead—which would be unprecedented for a sitting president.

The decision to name the under-construction carrier after Miller was announced during Trump’s first term, but CNN reported that the Navy is now looking to rename another ship after Miller—although it's unclear if it will be another aircraft carrier or a smaller ship.

NBC News corroborated CNN’s report and noted that talks on the name change have been ongoing for several months.

The Navy is reportedly planning to recommend Miller’s name for the Medal of Honor—the country’s highest military decoration for acts of valor—although the final award would need to be approved by Congress.

Tangent

According to CNN, the Navy has stopped refering to the under-construction aircraft carrier as the USS Doris Miller in its internal conversations. A recent White House proclamation about switching the new carrier back to steam-based aircraft catapults also referred to the ship by its hull classification number CVN-81.

What Do We Know About The Names Of The Other Ford-Class Ships?

The U.S. Navy plans to induct at least 10 Gerald R. Ford-class ships into its fleet to replace the aging nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carriers. The lead ship of the class named after President Gerald R. Ford has already been commissioned, and the USS John F. Kennedy—which is currently undergoing sea trials—is expected to follow next year. Aside from the USS Doris Miller, the next few ships in the class are set to be named USS Enterprise—a name used by two previous carriers—followed by USS William J. Clinton and USS George W. Bush.

What Do We Know About Doris Miller?

Miller served in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War and is famous for using an anti-aircraft gun to defend against the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Despite not being trained to use the weapon, Miller is believed to have shot down at least one Japanese plane and carried several wounded soldiers to safety. The citation for his Navy Cross medal notes he is receiving the award for “distinguished devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and disregard for his own personal safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces.” The citation notes that Miller assisted in moving his mortally wounded captain to safety despite facing serious fire and he continued firing the machine gun at Japanese planes until he was ordered to leave the bridge.

key background

The report about the renaming of the ship comes against the backdrop of another controversy involving Trump’s name appearing of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Last year, the president’s handpicked board voted to rename the center “The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center” and put Trump’s name on the building’s facade. The move triggered criticism and lawsuits, prompting a federal judge to rule in favor of the plaintiffs and order the center’s board of trustees to remove Trump’s name. Although the president’s name was removed, the board voted this month to add an inscription to the venue that reads “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.” Last year, Trump also announced plans to construct a fleet of new nuclear-powered guided-missile battleships for the Navy under the “Trump-Class” moniker. However, despite the class of ships being named after the president the lead ship is set bear the name USS Defiant. The Trump Class ships are meant to be the centerpiece of the president’s so called “Golden Fleet” plans. While aircraft carriers have supplanted battleships as the flagship of the navy’s fleet since the end of World War 2, the president has insisted the Trump Class will be the most lethal surface combatant in the U.S. Navy.