In a controversial move aimed at rebranding America’s historical milestones, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to rename May 8 and November 11 as “Victory Day,” commemorating American triumphs in the two World Wars.
Trump made the announcement via his Truth Social account on Thursday, stating: “I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I.”
He argued that the United States deserves more recognition for its role in securing victory, especially in World War II.
“Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result in World War II,” Trump posted.
May 8 is widely recognized in Europe as Victory in Europe Day, marking Germany’s surrender in 1945.
However, it is not a national holiday in the United States. Meanwhile, November 11, originally declared “Armistice Day” by President Woodrow Wilson in honor of the 1918 armistice that ended World War I, is now known as Veterans Day in the U.S, celebrating all military veterans.
“We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything,” Trump said.
“That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”
Although Trump has made his intentions clear, the White House has not yet issued any formal executive orders to effect the name changes.
This proposal adds to Trump’s pattern of renaming holidays and institutions during his second term, including efforts to revert Indigenous Peoples’ Day to Columbus Day and a suggestion to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
