The US President Takes a Stand Against the ‘Woke’ Changes Post-World War II
There’s quite a stir as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shares the reasoning behind the Trump administration’s decision to change the Pentagon’s name after nearly 80 years. Folks everywhere are feeling uneasy after the announcement.
On September 5, US President Donald Trump, who is now 79, signed his 200th executive order. This directive changes the Department of Defense (DoD) to the newly titled ‘The Department of War’. This change has really caught people’s attention.
The President explained, “We were victorious in World War I, World War II, and many other conflicts. Then, we made a shift to what some might call ‘woke’ when we renamed it to DoD. So, we’re going back to being the Department of War.”
Trump believes, “It’s a name that fits better with today’s global situation.” He shared these thoughts from the Oval Office. “It broadcasts a message of triumph.”
Trump further commented on how his team ‘knows how to rebrand without going overboard’. The last time the agency had this name was in 1949, shared by Sky News.
Historians recall that the name change back then was meant to signal the US’s focus on preventing future wars in the wake of the Second World War.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is 45, voiced his view on the renaming, stating that the ‘War Department’ is committed to ‘fighting to win, not just to avoid losing’.
“We’re shifting to an offensive stance, not just defensive. We aim for maximum lethality over mere legality. We will create warriors instead of merely defenders,” he passionately expressed. “With this step, America is making a comeback.”
He expressed hope that this decision would help ‘set the nation’s tone’.
On social media, Hegseth shared, “The motto from my first infantry platoon was: ‘Those who long for peace must prepare for war.’”
A fact sheet notes that Trump’s order allows Hegseth to refer to himself as ‘Secretary of War’ in all formal communications, as reported by Politico.
This change is already in effect, highlighted by a short viral video on X, previously Twitter, showing a door plaque with his updated title.
The fact sheet also mentions that the ‘Department of War’ will exist as a secondary title, possibly letting Hegseth act without needing to change laws with Congress. It’s a strategic maneuver to introduce change.
Trump and Hegseth’s actions have sparked a whirlwind online, drawing opinions from experts and the public alike.
As per Politico, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, remarked on the situation’s gravity, “In this precarious environment, our president and secretary’s focus on distracting from troop readiness shifts focus from pressing national concerns.”
Democratic Senator Andy Kim from New Jersey voiced his disapproval, calling the renaming an immature notion. “Americans are interested in preventing wars, not promoting them,” he added.
Meanwhile, a veteran on X commented, “I support you and this administration, but this change feels like glorifying war, which is concerning from someone who’s been there. War isn’t something to celebrate.”
Another chimed in humorously, “’Secretary of Defense’ to ‘Secretary of War’? How about more grandiose titles? ‘Treasury Secretary’ to ‘Master of Coin’. How about that?”
Others expressed growing concern, wondering, “Are we gearing up for war?”
“Looks like they anticipated this transition,” another observer noted.
Late on Friday, the Pentagon’s website switched to war.gov, with the headlining ‘U.S. Department of War’. This change echoes a deep historical resonance and a bold rethinking of American defense policies. It’s clear this move is just the beginning of an ongoing dialogue about America’s military identity and future directions.
