Trump changes the name of the Pentagon: War Department

Despite his declarations as an isolationist pacifist and a would-be Nobel Peace Prize candidate, Trump thus wants to reshape the military in a way that aligns with his goals of projecting a more aggressive image, showcasing combat capabilities.

Trump has sought to demonstrate strength rather than the"wokeness" that he and the Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth claim has tarnished the military's morale and mission under former President Biden, and has often referred to the country's dominant role in global conflicts and complained that it has not been celebrated enough, writes the New York Times.

Trump first proposed the idea in August in the Oval Office, saying it sounded like "a better name" and that, in his view, "we'll have to go back to that". He added that the name change would recall the country's record of military victories under the old name, citing World War I and World War II. "We had an incredible history of victories when it was War Department," Trump said. "Defence is too defensive," he added. "And we want to be defensive, but we also want to be offensive if necessary."

The Department of Defence and the Secretary of Defence were appointed through acts of Congress, so it is unclear whether Trump's order will take effect immediately. During his August speech on the possible name change, Trump expressed confidence. "I'm confident that Congress will prove us right if we need it," he said, later adding, "I don't even think we'll need it."

The move to rename the Pentagon follows a series of moves by Hegseth to change the names of bases and ships. He reversed a Biden-era decision that had removed Confederate-era names such as Fort Bragg and Fort Hood. In June, Hegseth also ordered the renaming of an oil tanker named after gay rights activist and Navy veteran Harvey Milk.