President Donald Trump announced plans to rename Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11, as “Victory Day for World War I.” He also proposed designating May 8 as “Victory Day for World War II,” aligning with Victory in Europe Day. Trump argued that the United States deserves greater recognition for its military achievements, stating that “no one was close” to American strength and bravery during the world wars.
The proposal sparked immediate backlash from veterans’ organizations and lawmakers. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) issued a one-word response: “No.” Senator Richard Blumenthal, ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, emphasized that Veterans Day honors all who have served, stating, “There’s no reason to not establish a separate holiday to remember America’s victory in the first World War, rather than replace this important holiday”.
In response to the criticism, the White House clarified that Veterans Day would retain its name, and the proposed “Victory Day” designations would be additional proclamations rather than official federal holidays. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “We are not renaming Veterans Day. It will just be an additional proclamation that goes out on that day”.
Establishing or renaming a federal holiday requires congressional approval, which Trump’s proposal lacked. Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, was established in 1938 to commemorate the end of World War I and was renamed in 1954 to honor all U.S. veterans. The holiday holds significant historical and patriotic importance, marking the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” when World War I ended in 1918.
While the White House’s clarification has quelled some concerns, the incident underscores the sensitivity surrounding national commemorations and the importance of honoring all veterans’ service and sacrifice.