Following the controversial decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, President Donald Trump‘s administration is now considering a similar move with a Navy warship. The USNS Harvey Milk, named after the influential San Francisco gay rights activist, is set to receive a new designation. According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, this could be the first of several upcoming changes.
Defense Secretary Hegseth’s Directive
In a report by Fox News, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been identified as the authority behind the order to rename the vessel, which was named in honor of Harvey Milk. A memorandum from the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, first reported by The Military Times, outlines plans for this name change. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has been tasked with overseeing this process. The timing of the announcement, coinciding with Pride Month, is seen as deliberate.
The document suggests that this initiative is part of a broader effort to instigate a cultural transformation within the US Department of Defense and the Navy, aligning them with the priorities of President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and the Secretary of the Navy’s focus on fostering a ‘warrior culture.’
Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, in an email to Fox News, did not refute the reports about the potential renaming. He hinted at possible further changes, emphasizing Secretary Hegseth’s dedication to ensuring that all names associated with the Department of Defense reflect President Trump’s priorities, American history, and a ‘warrior ethos.’ Any decisions will be publicly announced following an internal review.
Democratic Response to the Proposed Change
The original naming of the USNS Harvey Milk occurred in 2016 under former President Barack Obama. The ship embarked on its maiden voyage in 2024, arriving in San Francisco. The Harvey Milk Foundation notes that Milk, elected to public office in San Francisco in 1977, was among the first openly gay individuals to hold an elected position in the United States. Milk served in the Navy beginning in 1951 but resigned in 1955 after facing formal inquiries into his sexual orientation.
The proposed renaming by the current administration has sparked criticism from Democratic Party leaders. Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, commented, ‘As the rest of us celebrate the joy of Pride Month, my hope is that the Navy will reconsider this terrible decision.’
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