'I don't want to be defense only': Trump's new 'department of war' idea - what is it?

US President Donald Trump on Monday hinted that his administration might change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War.

While talking at a press event with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Trump said, "The Department of Defense. It didn't sound good to me. It didn't sound good. Defense? What are we defense? Why are we defense? It used to be called the Department of War and it had a stronger sound...Defense? I don't want to be defense only…we want offense too."



The US War Department, created in 1789, was reorganized in 1947 under President Harry Truman, who split it into the Army and Air Force and merged them with the Navy to form the Department of Defense. Truman pushed the change to give the Pentagon chief greater centralized authority, particularly over the Navy, which had retained wide autonomy through World War II.
Trump has recently suggested reviving the “War Department” name, calling defense secretary Pete Hegseth his “Secretary of War” during a Nato summit in June. He argued that the shift to “Defense” was a product of political correctness and has hinted at a possible rebranding.

However, any change would require congressional approval, given the department’s foundation in law. The move underscores Trump’s dual approach—promoting himself as a peacemaker while also projecting American military strength abroad.

Earlier in March, Hegseth on his X account asked whether the department name should be department of defence or department of war.