Published Aug 25, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT
The USS Doris Miller was to be named after a black sailor who served in World War II.
Members of the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam First Class Petty Officers' Association pose for a group photo with Chief Petty Officer (Retired) Carl E. Clark during a rededication ceremony for World War II Pearl Harbor survivor Doris "Dorie" Miller, who was serving aboard the USS West Virginia (BB-48) during the attack on Pearl Harbor. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeff Troutman)(Dec. 8, 2016)
The family of a deceased Black sailor who was set to have an aircraft carrier named after him have said they were shocked to learn it might be renamed to instead honor President Donald Trump. CNN and NBC News, citing anonymous sources, reported last week that the Navy is considering the name change for the ship, which is still under construction. It was on a path to be named the USS Doris Miller, after a Black sailor who served in World War II and later became the first African American to receive the Navy Cross due to actions deemed heroic in Pearl Harbor. Thomas Bledsoe, Miller's great-nephew, told CNN on Thursday "it was quite a shock" to learn about the potential name change. He added that the family learned of the name reconsideration from a news outlet rather than the Navy, which "caused a lot of concern and uncertainty." "This isn't just about a name on a ship," he added. "It's about an opportunity and a goal. It's about a significance in what it means to be an American."
