Navy reportedly weighs naming aircraft carrier for Trump instead of Black Pearl Harbor hero

WACO, Texas ( KWKT ) — The name of Pearl Harbor hero Doris Miller could be removed from one of the U.S. Navy’s next aircraft carriers, with President Trump’s name reportedly among those being considered as a replacement.

The Navy has been discussing renaming the future USS Doris Miller, the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier designated CVN-81, reports CNN . No decision has been formally announced.

The carrier was named for Miller in January 2020 during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor.

At the time, Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said the selection recognized not only Miller, but generations of enlisted sailors.

“In selecting this name, we honor the contributions of all our enlisted ranks, past and present, men and women, of every race, religion and background,” Modly said.

The naming was historic. The USS Doris Miller would become the first U.S. aircraft carrier named for a Black American and the first named in honor of a sailor for actions performed while serving in the enlisted ranks.

Miller was born in Waco, Texas, on Oct. 12, 1919, and joined the Navy in 1939. He was serving aboard the battleship USS West Virginia when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

During the attack, Miller helped wounded sailors before manning an anti-aircraft gun and firing at Japanese planes, despite having no formal training on the weapon.

Miller was later awarded the Navy Cross for his actions, becoming the first Black American to receive the decoration.

Miller was killed in action in November 1943 when the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay was torpedoed and sunk during operations in the Pacific.

The Navy has also honored Miller before. The Knox-class frigate USS Miller entered service in 1973 and remained in commission until 1991.

Sources told CNN discussions of renaming the USS Doris Miller have been underway for months, with the ship increasingly referred to internally by its hull number, CVN-81.

The sources, which spoke to CNN anonymously, said Trump’s name is among those under consideration if the carrier is renamed.

Miller’s family told CNN they were not informed in advance about the possibility of his name being removed from the ship.

Official Navy historical records continue to identify CVN-81 as the future USS Doris Miller.

Nexstar’s KWKT reached out to the U.S. Navy’s Office of Information, who has said they do not have anything to share at this time.