PRESIDENT Donald Trump has signed an executive order to change the name of the Department of Defense back to the Department of War.
He and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the move in an effort to restore the “warrior ethos” in America.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Friday, Hegseth noted that America has not won a major war since the name, which was first introduced by George Washington, was changed in 1949.
“That’s not to disparage our war fighters […] that’s to recognize that this name change is not just about renaming, it’s about restoring,” Hegseth said.
“Words matter.”
Hegseth said he hopes the order will restore a “warrior ethos” that will encourage armed forces to fight “decisively” and end conflicts.
“We’re gonna go on offense, not just on defense,” the former Fox News star said.
“Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct.”
Trump said that America could have won every war of the past, but instead leaders chose to be “wokey.”
“We just fight forever,” said the president.
“We have the greatest equipment in the world. We have the greatest soldiers in the world.”
When asked to explain the repercussions of the change, Trump said, “I think it sends a message of victory, really a message of strength.”
Under the new order, major signage changes will have to be implemented at the Pentagon.
The building’s public affairs briefing room will now be renamed to the “Pentagon War Annex,” a White House official told Fox News.
However, Trump insisted this wouldn’t be a costly change, and explained that he would be mindful of federal funds.
“We know how to rebrand without having to go crazy,” he said.
SWEEPING REFORMS
Trump said that he wasn’t sure whether he needed congressional approval to confirm the update, but noted he didn’t believe there would be any issues.
“We’re going with it, and we’re going with it very strongly,” he said.
This is just the latest in a series of name changes that Trump has introduced since he returned to the White House.
On his first day in office, he signed another executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15128457/trump-department-of-defense-war-rename-pete-hegseth