The president said the switch to the Department of Defense title after the Second World War was a « woke » move.
President Trump has signed an executive order rebranding the US Department of Defense as the Department of War.
He called the original name « woke » and said the new title sent « a message of victory » and « a message of strength ».
It can only be used as a secondary title unless Congress approves the change – but the department’s website has already switched to war.gov – as have its social media accounts.
The door of Pete Hegsesth’s office has also been adorned with a fresh « Secretary of War » sign.
Mr Hegseth said the move wasn’t « politically correct » but that it showed « we’re going to go on offence ».
« We’re going to raise up warriors, not just defenders », he added.
President Trump signed the executive order in the White House’s Oval Office on Friday.
