The White House says President Donald Trump will make what it called an “exciting” announcement about the Department of Defense on Tuesday, just days after he floated the idea of renaming it the Department of War. The Oval Office event is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (1800 GMT), but officials have not released further details.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the announcement in a statement, calling it significant but offering no specifics. It will mark Trump’s first public appearance in a week.
The president has repeatedly argued that “Defense” sounds too timid, insisting that “War” better reflects U.S. strength. He has framed the name as part of a legacy of American victories in both World Wars, telling reporters last week: “Defense is too defensive. We want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too.” Trump added he was unsure whether Congress would need to approve the change, but expressed confidence lawmakers would support him.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted at the shift during a lengthy cabinet meeting last week, saying it was about more than semantics. “It’s about the warrior ethos,” he told Trump, while adding that the goal remained peace. Trump himself continues to call himself a “peace president,” claiming credit for ending six wars since returning to office, though conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza remain unresolved.