Donald Trump announces potential return to ‘Department of War’ name for U.S. defense department
Former U.S.
President Donald Trump has made an unexpected announcement regarding plans to reassess the structure and symbolism of America’s defense establishment.
According to him, soon — possibly within the next week or so — the administration intends to officially rename the current Department of Defense back to the historic title — the Department of War.
He stated that this move aligns with his vision of reshaping the country’s military identity.
Trump hinted that this idea did not come about spontaneously: he had discussions with officials and experts, and according to him, most are supportive of this initiative.During informal conversations with journalists at the White House and a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, the politician emphasized that historically, the U.S.
achieved significant victories when its military was called the Department of War.
“When we fought in World War I, World War II — the name was simply the Department of War, and I believe that’s what it should be now,” he said.The president also underlined that the U.S.
aims not only to defend but also to undertake offensive operations if necessary.
“We want to be open to both defense and offense.
We need to be flexible and effective in any situation,” he added.According to plans, this name change could be officially implemented in the near future — by the end of next week or slightly later.A historical note: the U.S.
Department of War was established in 1789 and was responsible for overseeing land forces.
Major structural changes occurred in 1947 when, through the National Security Act, the modern Department of Defense was created, and the Department of War was disbanded.
The main idea at that time was to emphasize the defensive and peacekeeping nature of U.S.
military activities worldwide, a focus that remains relevant today.