In a significant and highly symbolic move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that rebrands the Department of Defense with its original historical title, the “Department of War.” According to senior administration officials, the order designates “Department of War” as a secondary title, a step that cleverly enables the administration to sidestep congressional approval, which is normally required for the formal renaming of a federal agency. By using this mechanism, Trump has revived a label that was last in official use between 1789 and 1947, bringing back a name closely tied to the country’s early military history and wartime achievements.
The executive order itself marks a milestone for Trump’s presidency, as it is the 200th such order signed since he first took office. At the signing ceremony, Trump justified the decision by appealing to both history and strength, arguing that the old title reflected America’s past victories and its true military mission. He claimed that the change to “Department of Defense” in the mid-20th century was a departure from tradition, made during a period when, in his words, the country began to prioritize political correctness over straightforward acknowledgment of military power.
As part of this sweeping rebrand, the White House has already introduced symbolic but highly visible changes. One of the most striking is the redirection of visitors from the Pentagon’s long-standing website, defense.gov, to a newly created domain, war.gov. This move underscores the administration’s determination to embed the new branding across government communications and signals a deeper cultural shift in how the U.S. military establishment presents itself to both domestic and international audiences.
The executive order further authorizes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior officials to adopt new secondary titles, such as “Secretary of War” and “Deputy Secretary of War.” These titles are permitted for use in official correspondence, press communications, and ceremonial contexts, according to a fact sheet released by the White House. This adjustment not only alters the bureaucratic language of the defense establishment but also reinforces the administration’s emphasis on offense, aggression, and raw power in the projection of American military authority.
Historically, the Department of War had been renamed the Department of Defense in 1947. This renaming was part of broader post–World War II reforms designed to frame U.S. military policy in terms of defense rather than offensive combat operations, reflecting a global desire for peace and stability after two devastating world wars. However, Trump contended that the older title was more forthright and “honest” about the department’s true function. He suggested that moving away from the name “War” symbolized a decline in American military dominance and a weakening of its resolve.
Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been a strong supporter of Trump’s vision, openly praised the decision with uncompromising rhetoric. He argued that the new terminology would inspire a culture of aggressive preparedness within the U.S. military. In his words, the focus would shift from “defenders” to “warriors,” with the department embracing offense as much as defense. His speech was characterized by phrases such as “maximum lethality” and “violent effect,” which emphasized his belief that the U.S. should not shy away from projecting overwhelming power in global affairs.
The timing of the rebrand has also attracted attention because it coincided with recent U.S. military actions abroad. Only days before the announcement, a U.S. Navy airstrike targeted a small boat off the coast of Venezuela, killing 11 individuals. According to Pentagon officials, the vessel was engaged in drug-smuggling operations and had ties to the Venezuelan criminal syndicate known as Tren de Aragua. The administration defended the strike as a legitimate security measure, framing it as part of a broader effort to combat organized crime and maintain stability in the region.
This combination of symbolic renaming and tangible military action illustrates a sharp contrast with Trump’s long-standing portrayal of himself as an “anti-war president.” While he has frequently claimed that his reliance on economic leverage and displays of strength reduced the need for direct military conflict, his decision to restore the Department of War title suggests a more complex approach. In his Oval Office remarks, he insisted that the change reflected not a desire for endless war, but rather a belief that forthright recognition of military power, combined with strategic economic policy, enhanced America’s position on the world stage.
