In a bold move that signals a return to traditional values and a strong stance on global affairs, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War.
The President, known for his conservative approach and unabashed patriotism, believes this change sends a "message of victory" to the world.
According to Breitbart, the President, accompanied by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, made this announcement at a signing ceremony at the White House. Trump criticized the current name, which has been in place for over 70 years, as being too "wokey." He stated, I think it sends a message of victory. Its a much more appropriate name in light of where the world is right now.
The new name harkens back to the War Department, a title used for over 150 years from 1789, just after independence from Britain, to 1947, shortly after World War II. While Trump cannot formally change the name of the Pentagon without Congress's approval, his order authorizes the use of the new label as a "secondary title."
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran appointed by Trump to lead a significant overhaul of the department, swiftly embraced the change. He posted a video of a new nameplate reading "Secretary of War" being affixed to his door at the Pentagon. Hegseth emphasized that the change was "not just about renaming, its about restoring the warrior ethos." He added, Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. Were going to raise up warriors, not just defenders.
Trump also suggested that America's military misadventures since its victories in World Wars I and II could be attributed to the decision to call it the Department of Defense, made in 1949. He argued, We could have won every war, but we really chose to be very politically correct or wokey.
The rebranding is part of Trump's broader strategy to project power and potency at home and abroad during his second term, aligning with his "Make America Great Again" policy. This policy has seen a U.S. military build-up in the Caribbean to counter drug cartels led by Venezuelas leader Nicolas Maduro, and a US military strike on Iranian nuclear sites.
Domestically, Trump has deployed the US National Guard in Washington and Los Angeles in recent months to crack down on crime and illegal immigration. However, his "Department of War" move has been criticized by Democrats as a costly political stunt.
The cost of the rebranding remains undisclosed, but US media speculate a billion-dollar price tag for the overhaul of hundreds of agencies, emblems, email addresses, and uniforms. A Pentagon official stated, the cost estimate will fluctuate as we carry out President Trumps directive to establish the Department of Wars name. We will have a clearer estimate to report at a later time.
Trump had hinted at this announcement for several weeks, expressing dissatisfaction with the name Department of Defense as being too "defensive" and making America appear weak. Hegseth has also criticized previous administrations for policies he and Trump have labeled as "woke."
The War Department was initially established in August 1789 to oversee the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. The Navy and Marines split off a decade later. This return to the original name is seen as a move to restore traditional values and a strong, unapologetic stance in global affairs, reflecting the conservative perspective of the Trump administration.
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