Full Breakdown
Navy’s Possible Renaming of the USS Doris Miller Carrier Sparks Outcry
8/22/2026, 8:04:09 AM
Core Event
Two senior Navy officials told reporters in August 2026 that the service is weighing a name change for the Ford-class carrier CVN-81. The vessel, originally slated to become the USS Doris Miller in honor of the World War II Black sailor who earned the Navy Cross at Pearl Harbor, may instead be renamed for President Donald Trump. This would be the first U.S. aircraft carrier named after a sitting president.
Background & Context
During President Trump’s first term, the Navy announced CVN-81 would bear the name of Doris “Dorie” Miller, the first Black enlisted sailor to receive the Navy Cross. In 2025 a renaming commission, convened under former Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, began reviewing ship-naming policies. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the service to replace names he deems tied to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” with ones reflecting “the Commander-in-Chief’s priorities.” The same directive also ordered a review of the carrier’s launch-system design.
Key Figures & Groups
- Doris Miller – Black Navy mess attendant who manned an anti-aircraft gun during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
- President Donald Trump – Former president whose name is being considered.
- Hung Cao – Acting Secretary of the Navy overseeing the review.
- Pete Hegseth – Secretary of Defense driving renaming efforts.
- Derrick Johnson – NAACP president, critic of the proposed change.
- Mark Kelly – Democratic senator and retired Navy officer, opponent of the rename.
- Thomas Bledsoe – Miller’s great-nephew and family spokesperson.
Timeline
- 2020 – Navy announces the carrier will be named USS Doris Miller.
- 2025 – Renaming commission formed.
- August 2026 – Officials confirm internal discussions about renaming CVN-81 to honor President Trump; the carrier is now referred to only as CVN-81 in internal documents.
- Late 2026 – Keel-laying ceremony scheduled; name decision expected before the event.
- 2034 – Projected delivery of the carrier.
Data & Statistics
- CVN-81 is the fourth Ford-class carrier under construction.
- Expected delivery year: 2034.
- If renamed for Trump, it would be the first carrier named for a sitting president.
- The ship would be the first carrier named after an African-American if the Miller name is retained.
Official Statements & Responses
- The U.S. Navy declined to comment on the naming discussions.
- A Pentagon spokesperson also declined to comment.
- The White House referred media inquiries to the Department of Defense without providing a position.
- An executive order issued by President Trump references the vessel only as CVN-81, omitting any name.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Thomas Bledsoe, Miller’s great-nephew, said the family was shocked by the possible name change and hopes the carrier will retain Miller’s name or that another ship will honor him.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Some sources say internal conversations about renaming to Trump are active; others note that no formal decision has been made and the Navy continues to refer to the vessel only by its hull number.
- No official announcement has confirmed either a name change or a definitive plan to name a different ship after Miller.
What’s Next
The Navy must finalize the carrier’s name before the keel-laying ceremony expected at the end of 2026. The Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy are tasked with reporting a plan for the carrier’s launch-system redesign, as stipulated in the recent executive order. The decision will likely be communicated to Congress and the public in the coming months.
