The U.S. Navy is considering renaming an aircraft carrier under construction that was set to honor Doris Miller, a Black sailor recognized for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor, according to CNN reporting published Aug. 20 based on three sources familiar with internal discussions. Two of the sources said the conversations have included renaming the ship after President Donald Trump, which would be unprecedented for a sitting president.
Navy Has Stopped Referring to the Ship by Miller’s Name Internally
The Ford-class carrier, designated CVN-81, was named the USS Doris Miller in January 2020 during Trump’s first term. According to CNN’s sources, the Navy has since stopped referring to the ship internally by that name, using only its hull number. An executive order Trump signed Aug. 13 on Navy shipbuilding referred to the vessel only as CVN-81 and did not mention Miller.
Navy Reportedly Weighing New Naming Guidance, Considering Miller for Medal of Honor
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao’s office has been reviewing formal guidance on ship-naming criteria, including which individuals — such as sitting presidents — ships may be named after, according to CNN’s sources. Separately, the Navy is said to be considering naming a different warship after Miller while recommending him for the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, which would require congressional and presidential approval. A Pentagon spokesperson told CNN the department had “nothing to announce at this time.”
No Final Decision Confirmed; Reporting Rests on Anonymous Sources
As of publication, the Navy had not publicly confirmed any final decision on a new name, and the reporting is based on people described by CNN as familiar with internal discussions rather than an official announcement. A fact-check by Snopes noted the claim’s rapid spread on social media traced to the original CNN report, which multiple other outlets, including NBC News, corroborated with their own separate sourcing.
Original Naming Ceremony Recognized First Black Sailor Honored With a Carrier
When the Navy announced the USS Doris Miller in 2020, it marked the first time an aircraft carrier would be named after both an enlisted sailor and an African American. Then-Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said at the ceremony, according to an official Navy News Service release, that the choice honored “the contributions of all our enlisted ranks, past and present, men and women, of every race, religion and background.”
Miller’s Actions at Pearl Harbor Made Him a Navy Cross Recipient
Doris “Dorie” Miller, a mess attendant from Waco, Texas, enlisted in the Navy in 1939, one of the few roles then open to Black sailors. During the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Miller helped move his wounded commanding officer to safety, then manned an anti-aircraft gun he had never been trained to operate, firing until he ran out of ammunition, according to the Navy’s official account. He received the Navy Cross in 1942 and was killed in 1943 when his ship was struck by a Japanese torpedo during the Battle of Makin.
Family Says They Learned of Possible Renaming From News Reports
Thomas Bledsoe, Miller’s great-nephew, told CNN the family had not been informed of the potential name change or the Navy’s renewed effort to recommend Miller for the Medal of Honor, calling the recommendation itself “very positive” while noting the family learned of the broader situation only through news coverage.
Democratic Lawmakers Sharply Criticized the Reported Discussions
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a Navy combat veteran, wrote on X that the carrier “shouldn’t be renamed at all, let alone for Donald Trump,” arguing Trump had “denigrated servicemembers like Dorie Miller who have paid the ultimate price.” Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said in a statement that renaming the ship would be “outrageous” and should be “dismissed outright by every Member of Congress,” adding that the controversy risked diverting attention from conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., said on CNN that Trump considering the honor for himself over Miller was unsurprising given Trump’s history of comments about veterans.
NAACP President Called Potential Change a “Slap in the Face”
NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in a statement that replacing Miller’s name with Trump’s would be “a slap in the face to every war hero and every service member who has worn the uniform.”
Congressional Push for Miller’s Medal of Honor Predates This Controversy
Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., has introduced legislation in multiple sessions of Congress, including as recently as March 2025, seeking to award Miller the Medal of Honor and a Congressional Gold Medal, continuing an effort supporters say dates back decades over concerns that racial discrimination prevented Miller from receiving the honor during his lifetime.
Most Modern Carriers Are Named for Presidents, but Some Exceptions Exist
Most of the Navy’s other active carriers are named after past presidents, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, USS George H.W. Bush, USS Ronald Reagan and USS George Washington, though none of those namesakes were in office when their ships were commissioned. Other carriers break from that pattern: the USS Nimitz is named for the World War II admiral who oversaw the Pacific Fleet, and the USS Carl Vinson is named for a Georgia congressman who chaired the House Naval Affairs and Armed Services committees.
Move Follows Broader Pentagon Effort to Revise Military Naming Decisions
The Navy convened a renaming commission in 2025 under then-Navy Secretary John Phelan, who believed aircraft carriers specifically should be named only after presidents, Navy admirals or major Navy battles, according to a person familiar with his thinking cited by CNN; Phelan was removed from his post before a related review was completed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth separately ordered the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk, which had honored the Navy veteran and gay rights activist, and previously moved to revert the names of Army bases that had been renamed away from Confederate officers.