Trump Proposes Renaming Veterans Day to “Victory Day,” Calls for U.S. to Celebrate Military Triumphs
In a bold and controversial statement, Donald Trump announced late Thursday night on Truth Social that he would rename Veterans Day to “Victory Day for World War I,” urging Americans to “start celebrating our victories again.”
“We won both Wars. Nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything,” Trump wrote. “That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore who know how to do so. We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”
Trump also proposed another change: renaming Victory in Europe Day — traditionally observed on May 8 to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany — to “Victory in World War II Day.”
The announcement sparked immediate debate online, with critics and supporters weighing in on the implications of altering long-established national commemorations.
Trump’s Push to Rename Veterans Day Sparks Controversy and Confusion
Donald Trump is stirring debate once again—this time with a proposal to rename Veterans Day to “Victory Day for World War I,” arguing that the U.S. needs to “start celebrating our victories again.” Posting on Truth Social late Thursday, the former president insisted, “We won both Wars. Nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance.”
Trump also suggested renaming Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), observed on May 8 to mark Nazi Germany’s defeat, to “Victory in World War II Day.” He claimed the changes are about “correcting the record,” stating, “We did more than any other country, by far, in producing a victorious result in World War II.”
While the remarks are likely to energize his base, many Americans—and historians—are puzzled by the proposal, particularly the rebranding of Veterans Day. Originally established as Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I, the holiday was later expanded to honor veterans of all U.S. conflicts, from World War II and Korea to Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Veterans Day has since evolved into a solemn national observance, honoring generations of service members. It became a federal holiday in 1968, and its meaning has broadened well beyond the World War I roots Trump wants to emphasize.
Critics also point out that May 8—while commonly recognized as VE Day—is not an official U.S. holiday. And while World War II combat in Europe ended then, the global conflict didn’t officially conclude until Japan surrendered in September 1945, following the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Trump’s assertion that America did “more than any other country” to win World War II is also drawing scrutiny. While the U.S. played a decisive role, such a claim risks inflaming international sensitivities—especially from nations like Russia, which suffered immense losses and contributed significantly to the defeat of Nazi Germany.
While Trump emphasizes America’s military achievements in World War II, his remarks may strike a nerve internationally—particularly in Russia, where the conflict is remembered as the “Great Patriotic War.” The Soviet Union suffered staggering losses, with an estimated 9 million soldiers and 19 million civilians killed on the Eastern Front alone.
The United Kingdom also endured immense hardship, especially during Germany’s Blitz bombing campaign, which devastated British cities and claimed thousands of civilian lives. These sacrifices are central to how other nations commemorate the war, and Trump’s framing could be seen as dismissive of their contributions.
