Trump Considers Stripping Black Navy Hero’s Name From New Aircraft Carrier

We’ve previously told you that President Donald Trump has been busy cementing his place in U.S. history by plastering his name on as many things as possible. Now, he’s not just trying to place his moniker on another significant landmark of American history, but the move would also erase a Black Navy hero in the process. Let’s get straight into it!

Doris “Dorie” Miller, born in Waco, Texas, on October 12, 1919, became a mess attendant—a person hired to handle cleaning, cooking, and serving duties—for the U.S. Navy in 1939. But he became a recognized hero just two years later, when he stepped up to help his crew members during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

According to the Smithsonian, Miller, who had received no formal weapons training, ran on deck to assist his wounded shipmates, including his captain and executive officer, when Japanese forces attacked their vessel. Not only did he help move his injured crew to safety, but Miller also manned a machine gun to fire at enemy planes, buying enough time for other Navy officers to escape before he eventually abandoned ship.

Miller’s bravery earned him the Navy Cross the following year, before he was killed in action in 1943 when his ship was wrecked by a Japanese submarine.

Related: A Running List of Everything President Trump Is Planning to Name After Himself

In 2020, during President Trump’s first term, it was announced that Miller’s legacy would be honored by engraving his name on the aircraft carrier CVN-81, which is set to begin construction later this year by the U.S. Navy. The naming of the USS Doris Miller would have been historic, marking the first time an aircraft carrier was named after an African American enlisted sailor.

However, those plans appear to be on hold after CNN reported that the U.S. Navy is holding internal discussions about renaming the warship, with sources claiming there are plans to name the aircraft carrier after Trump.

Not only would this be another example of Donald Trump renaming monuments to honor himself, but it would also mark the first time an aircraft carrier has been named after a sitting president, per CNN.

Thomas Bledsoe, Miller’s great-nephew, told CNN that the family had not received notice of the ship’s potential renaming. However, the U.S. Navy has recommended Miller for the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration. Miller’s family has been pushing for him to receive the honor for years, though Congress and Trump must provide final authorization for the award.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson spoke out about the potential renaming in a statement, calling it a “slap in the face to every war hero and every service member who has worn the uniform.”

“For generations, millions of Black women and men have proudly served in the United States military, defending freedoms that too often were not even afforded to them, their families, or their communities. Donald Trump is making a mockery of that legacy by treating military service as another opportunity for personal branding. Our brave service members signed up to defend the nation, not the fragile ego of one man. America deserves better than this,” he said.

Ultimately, there has been no final word on whether the vessel’s name will officially be changed. However, CNN reports that Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao has initiated a review of the naming conventions for naval vessels, suggesting that the president might get his way—potentially leaving the legacy of a Black Navy hero in the shadows.