Trump’s Proposal: A Shift in Commemoration
In a surprising announcement, President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to rebrand Veterans Day as “Victory Day for World War I” and to establish May 8 as “Victory Day for World War II.” This move is rooted in his belief that the United States’ military triumphs in both conflicts warrant greater celebration.
In a late-night missive on Truth Social, Trump remarked, “We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything.” His call to action? To “start celebrating our victories again.”
The Historical Context of Commemoration
Armistice Day, originally established to mark the end of World War I, commemorates the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918—aptly referred to as “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.”
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day, a day meant to express solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in service and a commitment to peace. It became a federal holiday in 1938.
World War II concluded in Europe on May 8, known as “V-E Day” for “Victory in Europe,” while the Pacific Theater saw its end in August, termed “V-J Day” for “Victory over Japan.” The Daily Beast has criticized Trump’s lack of clarity regarding these distinctions, dubbing him a ‘moron’ for mixing up the two pivotal dates.
Celebrations Past and Present
In the immediate aftermath of World War II, both V-E Day and V-J Day were met with exuberant celebrations across Allied nations, characterized by spontaneous parties and parades. While V-E Day has evolved into an annual remembrance in Europe—especially in the UK—V-J Day celebrations in the U.S. were more pronounced but gradually faded from formal observance.
Current polls indicate that American pride is at an all-time low, a sentiment many attribute to the Biden administration’s tenure.
Trump’s Efforts to Restore National Pride
President Trump has consistently sought to rekindle American pride. In 2020, he proposed the creation of a “National Garden of American Heroes,” a sculpture park designed to honor 250 notable figures from American history. This initiative, revealed during a Fourth of July celebration at Mount Rushmore, was pitched as a countermeasure to the removal of historical monuments during nationwide protests, aimed at celebrating those who significantly shaped the nation.
As of 2023, there are approximately 15.8 million veterans in the United States, representing about 6.1% of the civilian population aged 18 and over. Notably, fewer than 15% of veterans are classified as “combat” veterans. The last known World War I veteran passed away by 2011, and as of January 2025, only about 66,000 World War II veterans are expected to be alive.
Historical Reminders and Contextual Nuances
During World War I, around 4.8 million Americans served, while an estimated 16 million participated in World War II. May 8 marks the date when German troops offered their unconditional surrender. Interestingly, the Germans had been poised to surrender earlier following Hitler’s suicide on April 30 but delayed to allow civilians to escape westward and evade the advancing Soviet forces, notorious for their brutal tactics.
Japan’s surrender followed the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union’s declaration of war. Japan formally signed their surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri on September 2, 1945. Despite having surrendered unconditionally, Japan retained its Emperor as a symbolic figurehead, having offered terms of unconditional surrender as early as late 1944.
The Controversy of Renaming
Trump’s arguments echo his previous initiatives, such as renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and reinstating ‘Denali’ to Mount McKinley, in honor of the assassinated president known for promoting American expansionism and aggressive tariff policies—both of which align with Trump’s administration’s priorities.
Critics on the left have predictably opposed this renaming, arguing that it inadequately honors all veterans. The New York Times editorialized that the focus on victory overlooks veterans from more recent conflicts, which often had mixed outcomes. Some veterans expressed concern that such changes unfairly shift the narrative of military failures onto those who served.
Interestingly, the Times noted that America has historically come out on top in military engagements, save for the contentious withdrawal from Vietnam in 1975 and the chaotic exit from Afghanistan in 2021, which were classified as defeats.
Reflecting on Military History
The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam withdrawal just passed on April 30. Veterans Day, which is observed on November 11, was originally established as Armistice Day in 1938 and later modified in 1954 to honor veterans of all conflicts, following World War II and the Korean War.
World War I resulted in nearly 40 million casualties, with 10 million military personnel killed. The United States itself lost 53,402 soldiers within 18 months of joining the war from April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918.
The U.S. was drawn into the “Great War” through fervent propaganda, including the infamous, yet unfounded, claims of “rape of Belgian nuns” by German soldiers, later debunked. The British produced the “Bryce Report” in May 1915, which, although initially credible, was later discredited as containing exaggerated or fabricated testimonies.
Moreover, the American public was further mobilized by the sinking of the HMS Lusitania, which claimed the lives of 128 Americans; however, it was later revealed that the ship was carrying military munitions—a fact that complicates the narrative of innocent civilian casualties.
The Ongoing Debate on Military History
Current discussions about America’s military history are undergoing significant scrutiny, with a cultural debate emerging over the allowance of ‘revisionist’ perspectives in mainstream media, such as the Joe Rogan podcast. British author Douglas Murray has suggested that platforms should deplatform those who present contrarian views on America’s past wars.
Estimates examining both the fatalities and the generational impact suggest that the total ramifications of these conflicts extend into the millions, creating a profound legacy that continues to shape national discourse.
