Trump Suggests Changing Department of Defense Back to “Department of War”

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again stirred controversy after suggesting that the Department of Defense should be renamed back to its former title the Department of War.

Trump made the remarks during a White House meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, where he argued that the old name projected America’s strength and reminded the world of the country’s military victories.

“You know, we got the Department of Defense, but I between us, I think we’re going to change the name,” Trump said while seated in the Oval Office. “Everybody likes that. We had an unbelievable history of victory when it was the Department of War. Then we changed it to Department of Defense.”

The former U.S. president, known for his bold and often unconventional statements, suggested that the announcement could come within the next few weeks, hinting at a possible executive order or legislative push.

According to Trump, the current name Department of Defense sounds more passive, while “Department of War” reflects a more aggressive and victorious posture, which he believes better represents America’s global military dominance.

“That’s a little thing, has nothing to do with your country,” Trump added while speaking to President Lee, “But it’s something that I think you’re going to be hearing about or seeing about over the next couple of weeks.”

The Department of War was originally established in 1789 and oversaw U.S. military affairs for more than 150 years. Under its leadership, America fought in several defining conflicts, including the War of 1812, the Civil War, and both World Wars.

However, in 1949, following the lessons of World War II, the department was reorganized and renamed the Department of Defense in order to unify the military services under a single command structure and present a more defensive, peace-oriented image on the world stage.