RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Reports that the U.S. Navy is considering renaming the future USS Doris Miller aircraft carrier and potentially naming it after President Donald Trump have sparked criticism from lawmakers and veterans' advocates, while shining a renewed spotlight on one of the most celebrated enlisted sailors in American military history.
The Ford-class aircraft carrier, designated CVN-81, was named after Doris "Dorie" Miller during Trump's first term in 2020, marking the first time a U.S. aircraft carrier would be named after an enlisted sailor and the first named after a Black American.
Now, Navy officials have discussed changing the vessel's name, with Trump reportedly among the names under consideration.
Newsweek reached out to Navy Secretary Hung Cao's office via email for comment.
The Pentagon told Newsweek that it has nothing to announce at this time in relation to the name of the ship.
Doris Miller was born in Waco, Texas, in 1919 and enlisted in the Navy in 1939. Because the military remained segregated at the time, Black sailors were largely limited to service roles rather than combat positions. Miller served as a mess attendant aboard the battleship USS West Virginia.
His life, like many others, changed on December 7, 1941, during Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.
According to Navy accounts, Miller helped carry wounded sailors to safety, including his mortally wounded commanding officer, after the USS West Virginia was hit by multiple torpedoes and bombs. He then manned a .50-caliber anti-aircraft gun despite receiving no formal training on the weapon.
He continued firing at attacking Japanese aircraft until he ran out of ammunition before helping evacuate fellow sailors from the sinking ship.
For his actions, Miller became the first Black sailor awarded the Navy Cross, one of the military's highest decorations for valor. Admiral Chester Nimitz presented him with the award in May 1942 at Pearl Harbor.
Miller was later killed in action in November 1943 when the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay was torpedoed during operations in the Pacific. He was 24 years old.
When the Navy announced the USS Doris Miller in January 2020, officials described the decision as recognition not just of Miller's heroism but also that of generations of enlisted sailors whose contributions often went unrecognized.
At the time, then-Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the selection honored sailors "of every race, religion and background."
The planned vessel was set to become both the first aircraft carrier named for an enlisted service member and the first named after an African American.
The reported discussions come as the Trump administration is reviewing broader Navy naming policies. According to CNN , Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has been examining guidance governing who warships can be named after, including presidents.
The potential move would be highly unusual because aircraft carriers have traditionally been named after past presidents, lawmakers and major national figures, but not sitting presidents. Naming CVN-81 after Trump while he remains in office would be unprecedented.
The prospect of naming a Navy aircraft carrier after Trump comes as the president's name has become increasingly attached to high-profile institutions and landmarks beyond his business empire.
Earlier this year, the Trump-aligned board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts approved plans to rename its opera house in his honor , a move that drew criticism from artists and Kennedy family members who argued the center was established as a living memorial to the 35th president.
Alongside his extensive portfolio of Trump-branded hotels, golf courses and residential properties, the proposal would further extend Trump's name into prominent national institutions.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot, was among those who publicly criticized the reports.
In a post on X, he said: “Dorie Miller’s bravery at Pearl Harbor is legendary and resulted in him being awarded the Navy Cross. This aircraft carrier shouldn’t be renamed at all, let alone for Donald Trump, who has denigrated servicemembers like Dorie Miller who have paid the ultimate price.”
Thomas Bledsoe, Miller's great-nephew, told CNN that the family had not been informed about the potential name change. While he welcomed reports that the Navy is supporting a renewed effort to award Miller the Medal of Honor, Bledsoe said his family had been advocating for the honor "for years."
So far, no decision has been publicly announced in relation to the renaming.
Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Edward Pearcey.
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