President Donald Trump revealed on Monday that his administration is strongly considering changing the name of the Department of Defense back to its original title, the Department of War, which it held until the period following World War II.
Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have both voiced their support for reinstating the department’s “warrior ethos,” signaling their belief that the current name does not fully represent its mission.
“When we won World War I, World War II, it was called the Department of War. And to me, that’s really what it is,” Trump said while addressing reporters from the Oval Office.
The President further explained that he does not want the military’s role limited to defense strategies alone. “I don’t want to be defense only,” he stated. “We want offense too.”
Trump also hinted that he intends to move forward with the proposed change even if Congress does not initially authorize it.
When a reporter pointed out that renaming the department would require congressional approval, Trump responded confidently: “We’re just going to do it. I’m sure Congress will go along if we need that.”
