Trump to Rename Department of Defense as 'Department of War' in Bold Rebranding Move

In a move aimed at rebranding the image of the U.S. military, former President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to rename the Department of Defense to the "Department of War." According to sources cited by The Associated Press, the change will be announced through an executive order on Friday, marking a significant symbolic shift in how the U.S. presents its military power. While the name change will initially be unofficial, a White House fact sheet reportedly says “Department of War” will serve as a secondary name until Congress can make it permanent through legislation. The effort is being led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who echoed Trump’s vision of reviving a more assertive and battle-ready image for the department. “DEPARTMENT OF WAR,” Hegseth posted on social media, sharing a story about the proposed change. In an interview on Fox News, he explained the department wants to promote a “warrior ethos,” saying, “We want warriors, folks that understand how to exact lethality on the enemy.” President Trump has long expressed dissatisfaction with the current name. “Everybody likes that we had an unbelievable history of victory when it was the Department of War,” he told reporters recently. “Then we changed it to Department of Defense. Defense is too defensive. And we want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too, if we have to be.” Historically, the U.S. Department of Defense was originally known as the Department of War when it was established in 1789. It held that name until a post-World War II reorganization in 1947 led to its transformation into the National Military Establishment, which was later renamed the Department of Defense in 1949. Critics have questioned how the administration plans to make the name change permanent without congressional approval, but sources say Secretary Hegseth has been instructed to explore legal and legislative options. The Pentagon, as the department is commonly known due to the shape of its headquarters, remains a central symbol of American military power. However, this rebranding effort seeks to reinforce a more aggressive posture, signaling a shift in how military strength and national security are framed. Whether the proposed name change gains long-term traction remains to be seen, but the message is clear: the Trump team wants the U.S. military to project strength—not just defense.

NEWS