The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has publicly challenged reports that the U.S. Navy is considering renaming the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) to honor President Donald Trump. The vessel, currently under construction by Huntington Ingalls Industries, was originally designated in 2020 to honor Doris Miller, a Black WWII sailor and Navy Cross recipient who displayed extraordinary heroism during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson condemned the potential move, labeling it a “slap in the face” to military service members and war heroes. In a statement posted to social media, Johnson expressed skepticism regarding the appropriateness of a sitting president seeking to have their own name attached to a major naval warship. While the Navy has not issued a formal confirmation of a name change, the reports follow a broader pattern of administrative efforts to rename federal landmarks and military installations.
Beyond the naming controversy, the White House has reportedly signaled technical changes for the vessel, including the replacement of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System with traditional steam catapults. The USS Doris Miller remains a significant symbol as the first aircraft carrier named after a Black American and the first to honor the service of an enlisted sailor, adding weight to the public reaction surrounding its potential rebranding.