US Navy renames next aircraft carrier after Elon Musk

The US Navy’s next aircraft carrier, originally set to be christened the USS Enterprise, will instead be named after controversial billionaire Elon Musk, US President Donald Trump’s top campaign donor, under an executive order expected to be issued Tuesday.

The carrier, a Gerald R. Ford-class warship, is slated for launch in November and will enter service in 2029, replacing the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, named after a late World War general and popular postwar president.

The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) steams the Atlantic Ocean during a simulated straits transit with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) in the Atlantic Ocean, 9 October 2022. (US Navy)

In a break with tradition, it will be the first aircraft carrier named after a serving White House advisor, as Musk is spearheading an effort to shrink the government that has drawn a huge public backlash.

The decision follows a February draft order titled “Make Shipbuilding Great Again,” which aimed to revitalize US naval production amid growing concerns over China’s expanding fleet.

At the time, Trump said: “We used to make so many ships. We don’t make them anymore very much, but we’re going to make them very fast, very soon.”

USS Musk

The USS Musk will feature the cutting-edge Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, aligning with Musk’s vision for electric-powered innovation.

However, the technology has faced criticism from Trump, who previously suggested reverting to steam-powered catapults, saying in 2017: “The digital costs hundreds of millions of dollars more money and it’s no good.”

Although the ship is being commissioned with China in mind, Musk – in addition to working within the government – also has large business interests in China.