Overview
- At a White House appearance, including a press conference with South Korea’s president, Donald Trump said he is open to reviving the pre‑1947 name and framed the shift as reflecting a willingness to conduct offense as well as defense.
- Trump linked the earlier title to U.S. successes in World War I and World War II, saying the older name projected greater strength.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has advocated the change and touted a social‑media poll with over 200,000 participants that he says favored “Department of War,” with public support also cited from Elon Musk.
- Reports say Trump already refers to Hegseth as “War Secretary,” underscoring internal enthusiasm for the rebrand.
- Any formal renaming would require congressional legislation and remains uncertain, as critics caution that the martial label could send adverse signals abroad and raise questions about wartime legal norms and civilian protection.