Donald Trump used a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday to declare that the U.S. would now celebrate “Victory Day.”
The U.S. president said he plans to issue a proclamation designating the annual holiday honoring military service as ‘Victory Day’ for World War I and World War II.
The change is meant to recognize America’s triumphs in both world wars, and it will echo holidays observed in Europe and Russia, according to Trump.
Highlights
- Trump declared 'Victory Day' to honor U.S. triumphs in World War I and World War II during the Arlington ceremony.
- Trump emphasized the U.S. should celebrate Victory Day like Europe and Russia, marking historic military wins annually.
- Veterans Day began as Armistice Day in 1919 to mark the end of World War I and was renamed in 1954 to honor all U.S. military veterans.
Donald Trump made the comments during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
Image credits: The White House
“As you know today is not only Veterans Day, but it’s my proclamation that we are now going to be saying and calling Victory Day for World War I,” Trump said.
“I saw France was celebrating another Victory Day for World War II, and other countries were celebrating,” he added. “They were all celebrating. We’re the one that won the wars.”
Trump went on to describe how he watched the UK and Russia celebrate victory, but not the U.S.
“I watched it. I watched U.K. I watched Russia. They were celebrating Victory Day World War II, and I said, ‘We got to have a Victory Day,’” Trump told those gathered.
“Nobody even talked about it in our country. From now on we’re going to be celebrating Victory Day for World War I, for World War II, and frankly for everything else.”
His comments came during the national observance honoring U.S. veterans of all wars.
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day in 1919 to mark the end of World War I and was renamed in 1954 to honor all U.S. military veterans.
While European countries also observe Armistice or Remembrance Day on November 11 to honor those killed, they also celebrate Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day.
V-E Day is held on May 8, and it marks the formal surrender of Nazi Germany in May 1945.
Image credits: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Similarly, Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9 with large military parades, wreath-laying, and nationwide festivities.
Back in May, Trump signaled he wanted the U.S. to follow those celebrations in a Truth Social post.
“I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I,” the post read.
“We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything.”
It is unclear whether the change will carry any official weight, as only Congress can formally rename a federal holiday.
Trump previously complained about there being too many holidays
Image credits: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Trump’s decision to recognize more holidays comes after he complained in June that there were “too many non-working holidays.”
The White House refused to recognize or celebrate Juneteenth this year, an annual federal holiday to celebrate the end of slavery in the U.S., over Trump’s complaints.
The holiday was signed into law by the Biden administration on June 17, 2021, and while Trump celebrated it in the past, this year he vented on Truth Social.
“Too many non-working holidays in America,” Trump said. “It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed.
“The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”