Navy Reportedly Weighs Renaming Aircraft Carrier for Trump, Erasing Pearl Harbor Hero Doris Miller

A Reported Change Under Review

The U.S. Navy is reportedly considering whether to rename one of its next aircraft carriers to honor former President Donald Trump, a move that would strip the name of Doris Miller, the Pearl Harbor hero and the first African American to receive the Navy Cross. The potential shift, first reported by FOX40, has ignited a debate over military tradition, presidential legacy, and the symbolic weight carried by the names of America’s warships.

Miller was announced in 2020 as the namesake for a future Ford-class aircraft carrier, a historic choice that recognized his valor during the attack on Pearl Harbor and his enduring legacy as a barrier-breaking Black sailor. Now, sources indicate that Trump’s name may replace Miller’s on the vessel, though the origin of the proposal—and whether it stems from the White House, the Navy, or an informal suggestion—remains unclear.

Who Was Doris Miller?

Doris “Dorie” Miller was a mess attendant third class aboard the battleship USS West Virginia on December 7, 1941. With no formal gunnery training, he manned a .50-caliber machine gun during the Japanese attack, shooting down enemy planes and helping move his wounded captain to safety. His actions earned him the Navy Cross, an award presented personally by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Miller’s story became a rallying point for civil rights advocates and a symbol of the often-overlooked contributions of Black servicemembers in World War II.

For decades, veterans’ groups, lawmakers, and historians pushed for Miller to be honored with a major warship. The decision to name a next-generation carrier after him was widely seen as a milestone, acknowledging both his individual heroism and the broader sacrifices of African Americans in the U.S. military.

Political and Symbolic Implications

The reported proposal to replace Miller with Trump comes amid ongoing debates over how the military commemorates its heroes and how presidential legacies are etched into its vessels. Only a handful of carriers have been named for presidents—most recently USS Gerald R. Ford—and such decisions typically follow a long-established process informed by the Congressional Research Service report on Navy ship naming conventions. Altering a name already announced by the service would be an unusual reversal and could be interpreted as prioritizing partisan loyalty over historical recognition.

Ship names are freighted with meaning outside the armed forces, often reflecting national identity and values. Striking Miller’s name—and the story of a Black enlisted sailor who served at a time of deep segregation—would likely draw sharp reactions from civil rights organizations, military historians, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Veterans’ groups, who campaigned for years to see Miller honored, may view any change as a disservice to his memory.

“The naming of a ship is not merely a ceremonial act; it is an enduring statement about what the nation chooses to remember and who it aspires to be,” said one naval historian who asked not to be identified while the matter is under internal discussion.

What Comes Next

Neither the Department of Defense nor the Navy has released an official statement confirming the review. The lack of public confirmation has left room for speculation about the seriousness of the proposal and whether it could move forward. The U.S. Navy’s ship-naming process generally involves recommendations from the Naval History and Heritage Command and the Secretary of the Navy, with final approval resting with the service secretary or the White House.

Any decision to rename a carrier already designated for Doris Miller would almost certainly trigger congressional scrutiny. Previous congressional hearings on ship naming have underscored the importance of honoring a diverse range of figures from American history. In the current political climate, a move seen as elevating a divisive political figure over a widely revered war hero could become a flashpoint in broader cultural debates about the military’s relationship with politics.

For now, the future of the carrier—and the name it will carry into service—remains uncertain. The reported review underscores the enduring power of a warship’s name to spark conversation far beyond the Navy’s ranks.