The Trump administration has backed down on renaming the Veterans Day holiday to ‘Victory Day for World War I’.
President Trump said on Thursday that he wanted to rename the national holiday, which is celebrated on November 11, to celebrate the victory of World War I.
In a post to his Truth Social page, he said: ‘I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I.
‘We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything.
‘That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!’
Trump’s post was not accompanied with an executive order, and only Congress has the power to change or create federal holidays.
On Friday however, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told ABC News that the renaming wouldn’t be happening in an official capacity.
She said: ‘We are not renaming Veteran’s Day. It will just be an additional proclamation that goes out on that day.’
Trump gestures during inauguration ceremonies in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington
President Trump said on Thursday that he wanted to rename the national holiday in a post to his Truth Social
People participate in the 105th annual Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2024, in New York City
It remains unclear what Leavitt means by ‘additional proclamation’. It has been celebrated as a national holiday since 1918.
The date marks the official armistice that saw the end of World War 1, President Eisenhower saw it officially named ‘Veterans Day’.
In branding May 8 as ‘Victory Day for World War II’, Trump would be aligning the US with Victory Day, which is already celebrated in Europe.
May 8 marks the day that the allied forces mark as the end of the war in Europe, after Germany’s unconditional surrender. It is not the date officially recognized by the US as the end of the war.
American forces continued to fight the war until later that year when Japanese forces officially surrendered on August 15.
That fact has been highlighted by MSNBC host Keith Olbermann who branded Trump a ‘moron’.
He posted on X: ‘We won World War II on August 15, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered. Trump is a complete moron.’
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America group also told The New York Times that they would reject any name change.
Members of the FDNY march during the Memorial Day Parade on November 11, 2022 in New York
Trump salutes after stepping off of Air Force One upon arrival at Tuscaloosa National Airport in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on May 1, 2025
Their CEO Allison Jaslow said: ‘It is not the veterans’ fault if we don’t win wars. Veterans Day should be an acknowledgment of the ways that fellow Americans have served and sacrificed to protect and defend what we have in America.’
Left-leaning political action committee VoteVets also posted on X saying: ‘Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, honoring the end of World War I — then it was changed to honor ALL who served. Now Trump wants to rename it.
‘Reframe it. Twist it into a tribute to conquest. Veterans don’t need rewritten history. They need respect — and the benefits they earned.’
It comes as Washington is preparing to celebrate the 250th year of the Army on June 14, the same day as Trump’s birthday.
The large scale parade will feature marching troops, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, rows of howitzers, and other symbols of American might.
As many as 6,300 of the service members will march, with another 300 in support, in a demonstration of power and organization.
Trump, who curates his campaign play list, will also get to see as many as seven bands, assuming he attends the festivities.
