The President of the United States made the decision to change the name of the Department of Defense to its current designation
The announcement was not without criticism, especially from socialist figures in the Democratic Party. Senator Tammy Duckworth (Democrat-Illinois), a war veteran who lost both legs in Iraq, questioned the spending and political motivation behind the change.
"Why not allocate that money to support military families or employ diplomats who help prevent conflicts?" she asked, falsely accusing Trump of using the military as a tool to gain political points instead of strengthening national security.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday aiming to restore the name of the "Department of Defense" to the former "Department of War".
According to Trump, the name change seeks to reflect a more determined and victorious attitude in United States military policy. "I think it sends a message of victory. It's an attitude," he declared from the Oval Office.
The Department of War was the official name of the U.S. military agency for nearly 160 years, until it was renamed Department of Defense in 1949 by decision of President Harry S. Truman, in the context of the Cold War.
Trump argued that this change marked the beginning of an era of defeats or endless conflicts for the United States, and that the new designation reflects a more offensive and effective policy.
Trump stated that the rebranding will not have a significant cost and that he is not sure he needs Congressional approval, although he indicated he will seek it anyway: "I'm not sure they have to do it. We're signing an executive order today, but we'll put it before Congress," he said.
During the announcement, Trump was accompanied by Pete Hegseth, now the brand-new Secretary of War. Hegseth stated that "words matter" and that since the name change to "Defense," the United States has not won any major war.
He emphasized that the new Department of War will promote a policy of offensive action, "maximum lethality," and less political correctness. According to Hegseth, the goal is "to raise warriors, not just defenders," reaffirming a philosophy of strength and military dominance.
The name change coincided with recent military actions ordered by Trump. During the same conference, he confirmed the bombing of a Venezuelan drug trafficking vessel, which left 11 dead, and recalled the June 22 attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
According to him, these actions represent the new U.S. military approach: quick and effective decisions. "It was a perfect attack, and it eliminated any possible nuclear capability of Iran," he said.
Trump insisted that, under his leadership, the United States could have won all its conflicts if it were not for "political correctness" and the lack of will to seek clear victories. In his view, the country's new aggressive stance under the "Department of War" seeks to correct that trend.
Despite the apparent contradiction, Trump assured that his approach is not at odds with his attempts to achieve peace. Currently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the president highlighted his role in resolving international conflicts, such as the clashes between India and Pakistan, Cambodia and Thailand, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He stated that his success in promoting peace is due precisely to a policy of military strength: "I've achieved peace because we're strong," he concluded.
