U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed renaming two historically significant dates—May 8 and November 11—as “Victory Day,” part of a broader push to reshape how America commemorates its military history.
Posting Thursday on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared his intention to rebrand May 8—known internationally as Victory in Europe (V-E) Day—and November 11, currently observed as Veterans Day in the U.S., under the new title.
“I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I,” Trump wrote, emphasizing what he described as America’s decisive contribution to victory in both global conflicts. “We did more than any other country, by far, in producing a victorious result.”
V-E Day marks the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 and is widely recognized across Europe. November 11, originally known as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I in 1918, was renamed Veterans Day in the U.S. in 1954 to honor all military service members, not just those from the First World War.
Trump criticized the lack of specific national celebrations marking U.S. victories in the world wars, claiming modern leaders have failed to instill patriotic pride.
“We won both wars. Nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance,” he continued. “But we never celebrate anything. That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”
While the proposal drew praise from some conservative commentators for its emphasis on national pride, critics viewed it as part of a broader pattern of Trump’s symbolic culture-war gestures, with some warning against historical oversimplification.
No official proclamation or executive order has been issued, and there is currently no legislative movement to enact the changes. The White House has not responded to the remarks.
This is not the first time Trump has sought to reshape federal commemorations. During his presidency and beyond, he has called for reverting “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” back to “Columbus Day” and even floated renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”
Historians have noted that while U.S. contributions to both world wars were pivotal, they were part of large multinational efforts. In World War II, for example, the Soviet Union sustained the heaviest casualties—over 20 million dead—and played a crucial role in defeating Nazi Germany alongside the U.S. and United Kingdom.
Trump’s proposal enters a wider national debate about historical memory, patriotism, and how the past should be commemorated in a divided political landscape.
