U.S. Navy Working to Strip Black Pearl Harbor Hero's Name Off Aircraft Carrier to Honor President Trump
PUBLISHED Aug 21, 2026, 5:30 AM ET
The United States Navy is internally reviewing plans to rename the Ford-class aircraft carrier currently designated as CVN-81, shifting away from honoring World War II hero Doris Miller[cite: 2]. High-level discussions within the Pentagon include potentially naming the vessel after President Donald Trump, an unprecedented move for an active aircraft carrier[cite: 2]. This shift aligns with broader defense directives led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to remove ship names chosen for diversity initiatives[cite: 2]. The original designation honored Miller, an enlisted Black mess attendant who received the Navy Cross for his bravery during the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor[cite: 2]. To offset the removal, naval officials have proposed reallocating Miller's name to a smaller warship and advancing a posthumous nomination for the Medal of Honor[cite: 2]. Family representatives expressed shock over the lack of prior notice regarding the carrier name shift while welcoming the medal recommendation[cite: 2]. The Navy faces an upcoming keel-laying ceremony scheduled before the end of the year[cite: 2].
By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News
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Left: Highlighting removal of diversity honors and unprecedented presidential naming breaches[cite: 2]. Center: Reporting internal Pentagon deliberations and policy changes neutrally without speculation[cite: 2]. Right: Emphasizing alignment with commander-in-chief priorities and warrior ethos standards[cite: 2].
Internal sources revealed Pentagon discussions to rename CVN-81 carrier on August 20, 2026[cite: 2]. https://kesq.com/news/national-politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/08/20/exclusive-navy-weighs-renaming-carrier-slated-to-honor-black-war-hero-potentially-switching-it-to-trump/
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Exclusive: Navy weighs renaming carrier slated to honor Black war hero, potentially switching it to Trump
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U.S. Navy Working to Strip Black Pearl Harbor Hero's Name Off Aircraft Carrier to Honor President Trump
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From Laffey to Mabus: How Ship Naming Went Wrong
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