The Trump administration has begun deliberations over whether to strip the name of an African American war hero from a United States Navy aircraft carrier, according to a report from NPR on Monday, September 7, 2026.
The vessel in question, the USS Doris Miller, honors a World War II sailor whose heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor earned him national recognition. The potential renaming represents a reversal from President Trump's first term, when he publicly commended the decision to name the carrier after Miller.
The administration has not yet announced a final decision on the matter, and officials have not provided public comment on what factors are driving the review of the ship's designation.
Doris Miller served as a mess attendant aboard the USS West Virginia when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Despite having no formal combat training, Miller manned an anti-aircraft gun during the assault and helped move wounded sailors to safety, including his ship's mortally wounded captain. His actions that day made him the first African American to receive the Navy Cross, the service's second-highest decoration for valor.
The naming of naval vessels carries significant symbolic weight within military tradition, with ships often bearing the names of presidents, military leaders, and distinguished service members. The USS Doris Miller would be the first aircraft carrier named for an African American sailor and the first named for an enlisted sailor rather than an officer.
Any decision to rename the carrier would require coordination between the Department of Defense and the White House. The administration has not indicated a timeline for reaching a conclusion on the review.
