Gladness Gideon
In a bold move that aims to reshape the nation’s historical observance, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intent to rename two significant dates in the American calendar—May 8 and November 11—calling them “Victory Day” in honor of the nation’s triumphs in World Wars I and II.
Trump shared his proposal on Thursday via his Truth Social platform, stating, “I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I.”
Victory Day is already a widely observed holiday in many European countries on May 8, marking the formal acceptance of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender, which effectively ended World War II in Europe. In former Soviet nations, including Russia, May 9 is celebrated as Victory Day, commemorating the same historic event. The day, however, is not a federal holiday in the U.S. and is celebrated by only a portion of the population.
Though some Americans recognize May 8th, Trump’s statement emphasized that the United States, as a principal force in both world wars, deserved greater recognition. “Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other country, by far, in producing a victorious result in World War II,” he wrote.
In addition to May 8, Trump’s proposal includes renaming November 11—currently celebrated as Veterans Day—back to its original designation, “Armistice Day.” This day marks the signing of the armistice in 1918 that ended the fighting in World War I. While Veterans Day is a federal holiday honoring military veterans, Trump’s suggestion would refocus the observance to commemorate the victory achieved in both wars.
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“We won both wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything—That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore, who know how to do so!” Trump continued. “We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”
The renaming of May 8 and November 11 as “Victory Day” would reflect Trump’s ongoing efforts to change public life in the United States. In the past, he has pushed for revisiting the names of national holidays, such as reversing the designation of “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” back to “Columbus Day.” Trump has also proposed renaming geographical features, like the “Gulf of Mexico,” to the “Gulf of America.”
While no executive order or official proclamation has been issued to formalize the name changes, the proposal has generated considerable conversation about the broader implications for American historical observances.
As Trump seeks to redefine how the country commemorates past military victories, it remains to be seen whether the proposal will gain traction within the political establishment or resonate with the broader public.