The NAACP is not happy. Reports have surfaced that the U.S. Navy might be considering renaming an aircraft carrier that honors a Black WWII hero, Doris Miller, and instead slapping President Donald Trump's name on it. The organization is demanding answers.
Derrick Johnson, the NAACP's president, took to X on Friday to voice his frustration. He called the reported move "a slap in the face to every war hero," and he wasn't shy about the timing, especially given the conditions on other Navy ships. "This is a slap in the face to every war hero and to every service member who has worn the uniform. It's beyond comprehension for a president to want his own name on a Navy ship," he wrote.
Historic Vessel, Historic Honor
Let's talk about the ship in question. The USS Doris Miller, a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier with the designation CVN-81, is currently being built by Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (HII). It was named in 2020, and it's a big deal: it's the first aircraft carrier named after a Black American, and the first to honor an enlisted sailor's heroism.
Miller's story is the stuff of legend. During the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, he manned an anti-aircraft gun despite having no formal training. He went on to become the first Black American to receive the Navy Cross. He was killed in action in 1943.
CNN, citing two sources, reported earlier this week that discussions about renaming have taken place, though the Navy hasn't confirmed anything. Separately, the White House has announced plans to replace the carrier's Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System with steam catapults.
A Pattern of Renaming Push
This isn't happening in a vacuum. The reported talks fit a broader trend under the Trump administration, which has been busy renaming federal landmarks and military installations. That includes restoring Confederate-linked names to Army bases and renaming the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America." The Kennedy Center's renaming for Trump also drew backlash.
So, the NAACP is asking questions, and it's not hard to see why. Renaming a ship that honors a genuine hero, especially one who broke barriers, feels like a step backward. And the timing, with reports of deteriorating conditions on other vessels, only adds fuel to the fire.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by MarketDash editors.
