No US aircraft carrier has ever been named after a sitting president

The U.S. Navy is considering changing the name of a new aircraft carrier that had been designated to honor Doris Miller, a Black sailor celebrated for his actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, according to a new report.

The vessel — a Ford-class carrier now under construction — was to be named the USS Doris Miller, officials said during Donald Trump’s first term.

Three people familiar with the matter told CNN that Navy officials are now working on a plan to change the carrier’s name.

Two sources said the possibility of naming the vessel after Trump has been raised within the Pentagon. Such a decision would be without precedent: no U.S. aircraft carrier has ever been named after a sitting president.

Miller, who was serving as a mess attendant when Japan attacked the U.S. naval base in Hawaii in December 1941, helped carry injured crew members to safety before taking up a machine gun to fire at Japanese aircraft — despite having received no formal weapons training. Two years later, he was killed in action.

Under the reported proposal, Miller’s name could instead be assigned to another Navy ship. At the same time, the service is said to be backing an attempt to posthumously award Miller the Medal of Honor. Congress would need to authorize the award.

Miller’s great-nephew, Thomas Bledsoe, told CNN that relatives had not been apprised of the potential name change or the Navy’s new Medal of Honor recommendation. He said the family had pushed for the honor for years and described the reported recommendation as encouraging.

The Independent has contacted the Navy for comment.

Currently, there are three Ford-class carriers under development. One, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is already operational and recently concluded a tour in the Middle East.

This week, Trump issued a national security memorandum that directs the Navy to replace the electromagnetic catapult systems on aircraft carriers with older steam-powered systems. The Hill also reported this week that the Navy may alter designs of the new class of aircraft carriers to meet specifications desired by Trump.

On Thursday, the USS George Washington aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East to relieve USS Abraham Lincoln, both Nimitz-class ships, following reports of mental health struggles and supply shortages aboard the warship supporting the Iran conflict.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that reports of poor conditions have been “completely misrepresented.”