Biden announces that nation's future aircraft carriers will be named after Bush, Clinton
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden announced on Monday that the nation’s next two aircraft carriers will be named after former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
The two carriers, vessels that allow aircraft to land and take off at sea, will be constructed in the years ahead, according to Biden’s statement, and will join the Navy once complete. Biden said that he personally delivered the news to Clinton and Bush, who were “deeply humbled.”
“Each knows firsthand the weight of the responsibilities that come with being Commander-in-Chief. And both know well our duty to support the families and loved ones who wait and worry for the safe return of their servicemember,” Biden said.
Bush, who served as president from 2001 to 2009, previously was a member of the Air National Guard. During his term, he oversaw the Global War on Terror, a global military campaign launched in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack to find and stop terrorists.
Clinton, who served from 1993 to 2001, also oversaw numerous foreign policy conflicts, including his decision to initiate a NATO military response in the Bosnian war.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin applauded Biden’s announcement in a statement.
“The future USS William J. Clinton and the future USS George W. Bush will serve as lasting tributes to each leader's legacy in service of the United States,” he said.
The Navy currently has 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, according to the Associated Press. The carriers last about 50 years and undergo maintenance halfway through their lifespan.
Many aircraft carriers have been named after former presidents, including Dwight D. Eisenhower and Gerald Ford.
Paste BN has reached out to Bush and Clinton’s office for comment.