Trump signs executive order to rename Pentagon as ‘Department of War’ but there’s a catch…

US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defence as the Department of War. The move was a callback to the original name of the department from 1789 to 1947. However, there is a catch.

The directive issued by the Trump administration will make the Department of War the secondary title of the body. This was seen as a way to get around the need for congressional approval to formally name the federal agency. “We won the first world war, we won the second world war, we won everything before that and in between,” Trump said at the signing in the Oval Office.

“And then we decided to go woke and we changed the name to the Department of Defence,” he furthered. Even before Trump signed the document, his administration had already begun implementing the symbolic changes. Visitors to the Pentagon’s defense.gov website are now automatically redirected to war.gov.

The move also came after a deadly US Navy airstrike killed 11 people on a small boat in international waters. The American military justified its strike by arguing that the action was against a drug vessel operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. However, some legal experts questioned whether the strikes were lawful under international law.

What happened to the ‘anti-war’ persona?

The combination of recent aggressive military action and symbolic rebranding goes in contrast with Trump’s repeated claims to be “the anti-war president”. During his 2024 US Presidential Election campaign, Trump pledged to end conflict around the world and prevent new wars from erupting. Not only this, he has been gunning for a Nobel Peace Prize, claiming that he has resolved at least six conflicts around the world.

While signing the executive order, Trump said that his focus on strength and trade has improved America’s position in the world. He argued that the original name better reflects military victories and honestly represents what the department does.

Hence, the rebranding of the department is reversing the 1947 name change that was made as part of postwar reforms that emphasised defence over warfare. While Trump was changing the name of the Pentagon, seven US warships and one nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine were reported to be heading for the Caribbean following Monday’s strike.

However, it is important to note that congressional approval would ultimately be required for any permanent name change. In light of this, House member Greg Steube from Florida and Senator Mike Lee from Utah, both Republican congressmen, have introduced legislation to make the switch official.

“We’re going to go on offence, not just on defence. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct,” the Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, said in the Oval Office. “We’re going to raise up warriors, not just defenders. So this war department, Mr President, just like America is back,” he added.