Wannabe Nobel laureate Donald Trump signals renaming of Department of Defense to Department of War

Former United States President Donald Trump has suggested that he may push for a historic renaming of the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The comments were made on 25 August during a meeting with South Korea’s president, where Trump hinted at an imminent announcement on the matter.

Trump remarked that the current title does not fully reflect America’s military legacy. He noted that the Department had originally been established as the Department of War by George Washington in 1789 and only became the Department of Defense in 1949 during President Harry Truman’s post-war reorganisation. Trump has informally referred to commentator Pete Hegseth as “Secretary of War” rather than “Secretary of Defense” in past remarks.

The former president emphasised that some of America’s defining victories, particularly in the First and Second World Wars, occurred when the agency carried its original title. He suggested that reinstating the old name would resonate with supporters who admire what he described as an “unbelievable history of victory” during that period.

At the same time, Trump sought to underline his own record of diplomacy. He has increasingly tied this to his pursuit of international recognition and a potential Nobel Peace Prize. He frequently claims credit for ceasefire agreements and conflict resolutions, including between India and Pakistan, although his assertions have drawn criticism from the Modi government which has rejected his characterisation of events.

Supporters of Trump have actively promoted his case for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in international negotiations. House Speaker Mike Johnson has gone further by linking Trump’s domestic decision to send armed troops to Washington D.C. against crime with his international reputation as a leader committed to peace through strength.

Whether Trump intends to make the renaming a central part of his future campaign platform remains unclear. No formal proposal has yet been introduced, and any such change would require congressional approval. However, his revival of the Department of War title has already stirred debate as critics warn that the shift could alter the symbolic framing of American military power.