Navy Weighs Controversial Name Change for New Ship

The Navy is considering putting President Trump's name on an aircraft carrier still being built, a move that would make news on two fronts. For one, CNN reports it would be unprecedented to bestow the honor on a sitting president. For another, the Navy previously announced the warship would be named after Doris Miller, a Black sailor who manned an anti-aircraft gun at Pearl Harbor despite having no training and later received the Navy Cross, the branch's second-highest honor. NBC News confirms that the name switch is under consideration. No aircraft carrier has been named after an African-American, or an enlisted sailor.

One sign of the potential change: The Navy has stopped using the name USS Doris Miller in internal communications and is instead referring to the ship by its hull number, CVN-81. A final decision is needed before the year's end. All this comes as acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao reviews broader naming rules, part of a wider Pentagon effort under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to roll back what the administration sees as DEI-driven ship names. However, CNN reports that, if the change goes through, the Navy may name a different warship after Miller and also may recommend him for the military's Medal of Honor.