Trump is rewriting more than just the rulebook

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rump didn’t just rebrand the Pentagon. He dragged it out of the euphemism aisle and slapped on a new “sell-by” sticker.

Once upon a time, specifically 1789 for those keeping score, the United States had a Department of War, and they were just fine with that. The early Republic told its citizens: “This is the Department where we plan wars, and which shall henceforth be known as the department of such.” There was even a Secretary of War, because they didn’t feel uncomfortable putting the English language to use.

Back then, the Department of War took on anything that smelled like cannons. This included the Army, Indian Affairs, coastal forts and pretty much any other job description that sounded too exciting for the Post Office.

Fast-forward to 1947, the year Harry Truman signed the National Security Act, which briefly saw the War Department merge the departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force into a bureaucratic monstrosity known as the National Military Establishment. The government must’ve realized that the acronym of their new National Military Establishment (NME) sounded a whole lot like “enemy.” By 1949, Congress had rebranded it with something snappier: the Department of Defense.

Why? Because “Defense” sounded nobler. Cleaner. Less bloody. After World War II, America was casting itself as the reluctant superpower, fighting only when necessary. The name change was essentially a PR move. The US was tapping back into its isolationist roots, so long as the Industrial Military Complex didn’t command otherwise. Now, the US can send half a million troops halfway across the world, but at least it was doing it under the auspices of “defense.” And this just how taxpayers wanted it.

So when Donald J. Trump, in his second term, snaps his fingers and says defense is out, war is back, what exactly is he doing?

Say It Like It Is

On one level, it’s classic Trump branding. “War” is one syllable, like “Wall” or “Deal.” It cuts and it fits neatly on a red cap.

On another level, it’s a repudiation of 75 years of American double-speak. Trump’s critics may call it saber-rattling, but at least he’s being honest. The most powerful (and by far the most expensive) military isn’t about cheap parades every 250 years. It’s about fighting wars. Might as well admit it than to hide behind a focus-grouped noun.

And so, for his 200th executive order, President Donald J. Trump chose to bring the Department of War out of retirement, but only as a backup title. Under the order, titles like “Secretary of War,” “Deputy Secretary of War,” and the “Department of War” may now be used in official correspondence, public communications, ceremonial contexts and the kind of internal memos that future historians will gleefully footnote.

However, the Pentagon remains — for all practical purposes — the Department of Defense, until Congress decides otherwise. The newly minted Secretary of War (who looks suspiciously like the old Secretary of Defense) has been tasked with proposing legislative steps to make the rename official, which the White House hopes will happen within 60 days.

The White House pointed out that under  the Department of War, America survived the War of 1812, stormed into World War I, and crushed through World War II. The message was clear: The biggest wins came under the banner of War, not Defense. (On paper, had war broken out between the US Department of War and the Department of Defense, the Department of War would have a greater statistical probability of winning.)

Furthermore, restoring the old name wasn’t just historical homage, it was branding. “Peace through strength” was never just a slogan. It was, in Trump’s framing, an identity. It was America First, reasserted in all caps, with bold type, underlined twice, posted on Truth Social, a screenshot of which would be reported on Trump’s Twitter-X account.

This move is a signal to Trump’s base that their president is once again rejecting political correctness.

It signals to rivals in Russia, China, and Iran — and for some reason Venezuela, Brazil, and India — to take note. Trump, who always speaks his mind anyway, sees no reason to hide behind this particular euphemism.

Finally, it’s signal to history. Trump wants to win a Nobel Peace Prize just as badly as he wants to win World War III. We’re talking about a “President of Peace” paradoxically achieved through his “Department of War.”

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1078)