Biden Declares Future Aircraft Carriers to Be Named After Clinton and Bush
Anticipate that the names will annoy the next individual settling into the White House.
TroibNews 
President Joe Biden announced on Monday that the nation’s next two aircraft carriers will bear the names of George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, a bipartisan gesture that may ruffle the feathers of the next president.
According to the White House, the new vessels will be designated the USS William J. Clinton and the USS George W. Bush when they enter service in the mid-2030s. Biden mentioned in his statement that he personally informed “Bill and George” of the decision.
While it is customary for former presidents to be honored in this way, the choice is somewhat unconventional, especially considering Bush’s notable moment aboard an aircraft carrier, which became a controversial highlight of his presidency. In May 2003, he made a speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln beneath a “Mission Accomplished” banner, inaccurately declaring the end of major combat operations in Iraq.
Currently, construction on the two carriers has not yet started. These ships are intended to replace several aging carriers that are nearing 50 years in service and are expected to be phased out within the next decade.
The U.S. Navy presently operates 11 carriers, along with three more in various stages of construction. The new vessels will be part of the Gerald R. Ford class, known for being larger and more advanced than the older Nimitz-class carriers, which have been in service since the 1970s. The first of the planned 10 Ford carriers completed its maiden deployment from May 2023 to January 2024, conducting operations in the Mediterranean Sea.
These newer ships are not only faster than their Nimitz-class counterparts but also require hundreds fewer personnel to operate, thanks to advancements in technology, software updates, and automation.
Additionally, the John F. Kennedy carrier is expected to be handed over to the Navy later this year.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that aircraft carriers “are the centerpiece of America’s naval forces,” noting that the new ships will “serve as lasting tributes to each leader’s legacy in service of the United States.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to the White House, the new vessels will be designated the USS William J. Clinton and the USS George W. Bush when they enter service in the mid-2030s. Biden mentioned in his statement that he personally informed “Bill and George” of the decision.
While it is customary for former presidents to be honored in this way, the choice is somewhat unconventional, especially considering Bush’s notable moment aboard an aircraft carrier, which became a controversial highlight of his presidency. In May 2003, he made a speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln beneath a “Mission Accomplished” banner, inaccurately declaring the end of major combat operations in Iraq.
Currently, construction on the two carriers has not yet started. These ships are intended to replace several aging carriers that are nearing 50 years in service and are expected to be phased out within the next decade.
The U.S. Navy presently operates 11 carriers, along with three more in various stages of construction. The new vessels will be part of the Gerald R. Ford class, known for being larger and more advanced than the older Nimitz-class carriers, which have been in service since the 1970s. The first of the planned 10 Ford carriers completed its maiden deployment from May 2023 to January 2024, conducting operations in the Mediterranean Sea.
These newer ships are not only faster than their Nimitz-class counterparts but also require hundreds fewer personnel to operate, thanks to advancements in technology, software updates, and automation.
Additionally, the John F. Kennedy carrier is expected to be handed over to the Navy later this year.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that aircraft carriers “are the centerpiece of America’s naval forces,” noting that the new ships will “serve as lasting tributes to each leader’s legacy in service of the United States.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
