U.S. President Donald Trump recently sparked debate after suggesting that the Department of Defense should return to its original name, the Department of War. Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump argued that the older name sounded “stronger” and reflected America’s history of military victories.
While addressing reporters, Trump questioned the current title:
“Defense… what are we defending? Why are we always on defense? It used to be called the Department of War and back then, we won World War I, we won World War II, we won everything.”
Trump hinted that a name change could shift the country’s mindset from being purely defensive to projecting more strength globally. He even suggested that members of his Cabinet, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, should “take a vote” on restoring the original name.
Hegseth responded playfully, “That’s coming soon, sir,” to which Trump added that America needs both defense and offense if it wants to keep winning wars.
Executive Orders Signed Alongside His Remarks
Trump made these comments while signing two executive orders:
One banning the desecration of the American flag with stricter penalties.
Another rolling back “cashless bail” policies as part of his Washington, D.C. crime crackdown.
Not Trump’s First Suggestion
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Trump has floated the idea of renaming the Pentagon’s top office. Back in June, before a press conference, he referred to Pete Hegseth as “Secretary of War” on Truth Social.
That press conference came after Operation Midnight Hammer, a U.S. airstrike mission targeting Iran’s nuclear program. Trump praised American pilots for carrying out a 36-hour mission, calling their efforts “legendary,” while criticizing mainstream media coverage.
The Bigger Picture
Trump’s remarks revive an old debate: should the United States emphasize defense in its military doctrine, or embrace a more offensive posture as it did historically under the Department of War? While critics see this as rhetoric, supporters believe the symbolic change could reflect a tougher foreign policy stance.
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