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.
