NAACP Rages At Trump

NAACP President Derrick Johnson is taking aim at the U.S. Navy following reports that officials have discussed removing the name of World War II hero Doris Miller from a new aircraft carrier, with President Donald Trump reportedly among those considered to receive the honor instead.

The potential change has quickly ignited a debate over military tradition, American history and how the Navy chooses the names of some of the most powerful warships in the world.

Johnson sharply criticized the reported discussions Friday, arguing that taking Miller’s name off the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier would disrespect Americans who have served and sacrificed for the country.

But there is an important distinction: the Navy has not publicly announced a final decision to rename the carrier for Trump.

Navy Reportedly Considering Major Aircraft Carrier Name Change

The controversy involves CVN-81, an advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier currently under construction.

The Navy announced in 2020, during Trump’s first administration, that the vessel would be named the USS Doris Miller.

That decision was historically significant.

Miller was an enlisted sailor who became a national hero for his actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The carrier would also become the first named for a Black American and the first honoring an enlisted sailor for actions performed while serving in the ranks.

Recent reports, however, indicate that Navy officials have been discussing a possible change.

Sources familiar with the deliberations have said Trump’s name has emerged during those conversations. The Navy has not publicly confirmed that Trump will become the carrier’s namesake.

Naming an aircraft carrier for a sitting president would also represent a significant departure from precedent.

Doris Miller’s Heroism at Pearl Harbor

The controversy is attracting particular attention because of Miller’s extraordinary military record.

Miller was serving aboard the battleship USS West Virginia when Japanese forces launched their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, bringing the United States into World War II.

As enemy aircraft attacked the American fleet, Miller helped wounded sailors, including assisting his mortally wounded captain.

He then manned an anti-aircraft machine gun and fired at attacking Japanese aircraft despite not having received formal training to operate the weapon.

His actions made Miller one of the most celebrated American sailors to emerge from Pearl Harbor.

Miller subsequently became the first Black American to receive the Navy Cross, one of the nation’s highest awards for military valor.

Miller remained on active duty following Pearl Harbor until November 1943, when he lost his life after the USS Liscome Bay was struck by an enemy torpedo in the Pacific.

His story has remained an enduring example of courage under fire and devotion to country.

NAACP President Condemns Reported Discussions

Johnson argued that removing Miller’s name would diminish the legacy of an American who earned recognition through military service and sacrifice.

He characterized the possibility as an insult to America’s war heroes and those who have worn the nation’s uniform.

Johnson also questioned the prospect of placing the name of a sitting president on an aircraft carrier while the military faces other challenges involving readiness, living conditions and modernization.

The NAACP leader pointed specifically to reported problems aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as part of his criticism.

The White House and Navy, however, have not announced that Trump has ordered CVN-81 renamed after himself.

That leaves the controversy centered, for now, on reported internal discussions rather than an official policy decision.

Trump Pushes Sweeping Changes for U.S. Navy

The naming controversy comes as Trump pursues a much broader overhaul of American naval power and the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

The administration has argued that years of delays, rising costs, limited shipyard capacity and complicated procurement procedures have weakened America’s ability to build and maintain warships efficiently.

Trump has made rebuilding American shipbuilding a national security priority, calling for increased domestic capacity, a stronger maritime workforce and major changes to Navy procurement.

The White House has also ordered officials to develop plans for a fifth public naval shipyard, which would expand America’s ability to maintain nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers.

Those proposals could have major implications for defense contractors, military spending, American manufacturing jobs and U.S. national security for decades.

Trump Orders Return to Steam Catapults

CVN-81 is also at the center of another major Trump administration Navy decision.

Trump has directed military officials to develop a plan for replacing the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, or EMALS, planned for the carrier with a traditional steam-powered catapult system.

The president has criticized electromagnetic launch technology for years and has argued that older steam technology is more dependable.

The White House says the broader reforms are intended to address persistent problems with Navy shipbuilding, including cost overruns, delays and declining industrial capacity.

Critics have questioned whether returning to steam technology makes financial or technological sense.

Bryan Clark, senior fellow and director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, previously noted that steam catapult systems are no longer being manufactured and that the Navy purchased its last set roughly two decades ago.

The disagreement highlights a larger challenge facing America’s military: deciding when proven older technology offers greater reliability and when newer systems provide capabilities necessary for future warfare.

Bigger Debate Over Military Tradition

The dispute surrounding the USS Doris Miller ultimately goes beyond one aircraft carrier.

It raises questions about how America’s military honors its heroes, how Navy vessels should be named and whether those traditions should change as the United States undertakes a massive modernization of its armed forces.

Aircraft carriers are among the most visible symbols of American military power. Their names can remain part of the Navy for half a century or longer, giving naming decisions lasting historical significance.

For conservatives who strongly support America’s military, Miller’s story also carries a straightforward message that transcends modern political divisions.

He was an American sailor who found himself under enemy attack, helped his wounded shipmates and fought back despite lacking formal training on the weapon he used.

His courage earned him the Navy Cross and a permanent place in American military history.

Trump, meanwhile, is pursuing an aggressive effort to expand naval strength, revive American shipbuilding and change how the Pentagon approaches major defense projects.

Those two realities could collide if the administration ultimately decides that CVN-81 should carry a different name.

For now, however, reports of a possible USS Trump remain just that — reports of internal discussions. Until the Navy or Trump administration announces a final decision, the future name of CVN-81 remains unsettled.