Trump Proposes Renaming Veterans Day and VE Day to Celebrate American Military Victories

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: File photo: AFP

Former President Donald Trump has proposed renaming Veterans Day as “Victory Day for World War I” and designating May 8, known internationally as VE Day, as “Victory Day for World War II” to honor the United States’ contributions to both global conflicts.

In a late-night post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said the changes are intended to “celebrate our victories again” and highlight America’s unmatched role in shaping the outcome of both world wars.

“We won both wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery or military brilliance,” Trump wrote. “But we never celebrate anything. That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore that know how to do so!”

While many nations across Europe, including the UK, France, and Canada, mark May 8 Victory in Europe (VE) Day as the end of World War II in Europe, the U.S. has traditionally maintained a more subdued acknowledgment. This is partly because the war against Japan in the Pacific theater continued until August 1945, culminating in Japan’s surrender after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Trump’s proposal comes amid global commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of Germany's surrender in 1945. The suggestion to rebrand these observances underscores a broader theme in Trump's political messaging emphasizing national pride and military strength.

The former president did not issue an executive order nor clarify whether he seeks to make May 8 a federal holiday. Under U.S. law, only Congress has the authority to establish federal holidays. As of now, there is no legislation pending in Congress to enact such changes.

Potential Geopolitical Repercussions

Trump’s comments may provoke tension with Russia, which observes Victory Day on May 9 in remembrance of the Soviet Union’s enormous sacrifices in the Second World War often referred to domestically as the “Great Patriotic War.” Approximately 27 million Soviet citizens died during the conflict. Russia commemorates the occasion with grand military parades and public ceremonies.

By contrast, the U.S. suffered approximately 418,500 total casualties in World War II, according to the U.S. National WWII Museum, with most of those being military personnel. While these numbers are far lower than the Soviet death toll, Trump emphasized America's strategic and industrial contributions to the Allied victory.

Background on Veterans Day and Memorial Day

Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11, originally began as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I in 1918. It was later renamed to honor all U.S. military veterans after World War II and the Korean War. Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday of May, is the designated U.S. holiday for remembering those who died in military service.

It remains unclear how Trump envisions the newly proposed “Victory Days” being celebrated. However, he has previously expressed interest in holding large-scale military parades in Washington, D.C., similar to those held in France and Russia.

Notably, the U.S. Army is reportedly planning a parade to celebrate its birthday on June 14 Trump’s own birthday. The Associated Press noted the parade is part of broader celebrations tied to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Outlook

With no executive action taken or congressional support yet announced, Trump’s proposal remains symbolic. Still, it reinforces his broader messaging around American exceptionalism and military strength hallmarks of his political identity.

Whether this proposal gains traction in Congress or among veterans’ groups remains to be seen, particularly as the nation approaches significant anniversaries tied to its founding and military history.