Navy may name new aircraft carrier after Trump and not WWII hero

U.S. Navy officials may name a new aircraft carrier after President Donald Trump instead of a World War II sailor who heroically saved lives when Pearl Harbor was bombed, CNN and NBC News reported Thursday, Aug. 20.

The reported move by the Navy to name the carrier, now called CVN-81, comes amid a decades-long push to recognize Doris "Dorie" Miller, an enlisted Black sailor who was a mess attendant second class aboard the battleship USS West Virginia when bombs began falling on Dec. 7, 1941.

Miller, who had been gathering laundry that morning, rushed to the smoking deck and took control of an anti-aircraft gun he had no training on and opened fire on Japanese planes, downing at least one of them. He also helped carry wounded sailors to safety.

Miller was famously portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr. in the 2001 film "Pearl Harbor." During Trump's first term, the Navy announced that the Ford-class carrier would be called the USS Doris Miller.

CNN, citing three sources familiar with internal discussions, said it's unclear what the carrier will be named. But two of the sources told CNN there have been internal conversations about renaming it to honor Trump. It would be an unprecedented move to name an aircraft carrier after a sitting president. NBC, citing two U.S. officials, also reported that Navy leaders are considering naming the carrier after Trump and have been discussing the issue for months.

The carrier is still under construction until 2034 but the Navy is under a time crunch to finalize the name as the ship's keel-laying ceremony is expected at the end of this year, according to CNN.

Amid conversations over the ship's name, the Navy has effectively stopped referring to the ship as the USS Doris Miller internally and is only calling it by its hull number, CVN-81, one of the sources said. A recent White House executive order on shipbuilding also referred to the ship only as CVN-81, tasking the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Navy to report back with a plan to replace the ship's electromagnetic aircraft launch system with steam and hydraulic systems.

USA TODAY has reached out to the White House and Navy for comment. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment.

According to CNN, the Navy plans to name another warship after Miller and is recommending him for the Medal of Honor, the highest decoration for military valor. NBC reported that the White House has not approved the commendation for Miller.

Miller's family could not be immediately reached for comment. The Waco, Texas, native died in 1943 during a Japanese torpedo attack in the Pacific. His family and members of Congress have long pushed for him to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

After the Japanese surprise attack in Hawaii in 1941, "Dorie," as he was known, received the Navy Cross for his action in 1942.