Navy discusses renaming carrier for Trump

Navy leaders are discussing whether to rename an aircraft carrier planned to honor Doris Miller, the Black World War II sailor celebrated for heroism at Pearl Harbor, and instead name it after President Donald Trump, according to U.S. officials and media reports.

The carrier, still under construction, has been slated to become the USS Doris Miller. The name was announced during Trump’s first term and would make the ship the first U.S. aircraft carrier named for a Black person and for an enlisted sailor.

NBC News reported, citing two U.S. officials, that discussions about changing the name have been underway for several months. CNN first reported the discussions, saying the Navy was working to rename the carrier and citing three sources familiar with internal conversations. CNN reported that two of those sources said there had been conversations about naming the ship for Trump.

The Navy did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment on the possible change.

Miller was a mess attendant, or Navy cook, aboard the USS West Virginia during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1941. Though he had not been trained on the weapon, he manned an anti-aircraft gun during the attack and helped move wounded sailors to safety. NBC News reported he is credited with shooting down at least one Japanese plane; The Guardian reported he reportedly shot down four to six Japanese bombers.

Miller became the first Black service member to receive the Navy Cross, the Navy’s second-highest honor. His citation says: “While at the side of his Captain on the bridge of the battleship U.S.S. WEST VIRGINIA, Mess Attendant First Class Doris Miller, despite enemy strafing and bombing and in the face of a serious fire, assisted in moving his Captain, who had been mortally wounded, to a place of greater safety, and later manned and operated a machine gun directed at enemy Japanese attacking aircraft until ordered to leave the bridge.”

Miller died at sea in 1943 aboard the Liscome Bay after it was hit by a Japanese torpedo, with two-thirds of the crew lost, The Guardian reported. His family has long advocated for his Navy Cross to be upgraded to a Medal of Honor.

NBC News reported that two U.S. officials said Miller is now under consideration for the Medal of Honor, but that the White House has not approved it. Destroyers are often named after Medal of Honor recipients, while aircraft carriers are usually named after presidents.

Authority to name Navy ships rests with the Navy secretary, though defense secretaries are often closely involved in aircraft carrier naming decisions. NBC News reported that the decision would be made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao.

The ship is the Navy’s fourth Ford-class aircraft carrier. NBC News reported it could be among the first to have the steam catapult launch system ordered by Trump rather than electromagnetic catapults.

The reports drew criticism from Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and retired Navy officer. “Dorie Miller’s bravery at Pearl Harbor is legendary and resulted in him being awarded the Navy Cross,” Kelly wrote on X. “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.”

The Guardian reported that no U.S. Navy aircraft carrier has ever been named for a sitting president.