U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to adopt the name “Department of War” as a secondary title, reviving the pre-1947 designation that many view as a stark symbol of militarism and aggressive foreign policy.

The executive order, set to be signed on Friday, will also allow Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to call himself Secretary of War, in what observers say is an attempt to rebrand U.S. military power as unapologetically offensive rather than defensive.

Trump’s order argues that the term “Defense” is too soft, declaring: “The name ‘Department of War’ conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve.” Critics, however, warn that this is less about “readiness” and more about Trump’s obsession with projecting raw power, intimidation, and confrontation on the world stage.

The original War Department was established in 1789 and later rebranded after World War II to reflect an international system based on collective security and diplomacy. Analysts say Trump’s reversal is a deliberate ideological statement: America is no longer interested in defense but in open-ended war-making to secure its geopolitical interests.

Under U.S. law, only Congress can formally rename executive departments, but Trump’s order pressures lawmakers by authorizing Hegseth to propose legislative changes and begin a gradual transition. A full rebrand could cost over $1 billion, diverting funds away from pressing domestic needs and humanitarian priorities, while deepening the Pentagon’s notorious culture of waste.

Peace activists, lawmakers, and international analysts have condemned the move as reckless. “This renaming is not symbolic—it’s a declaration of intent,” said one Washington-based think tank researcher. “It signals that the Trump administration views war as the primary tool of U.S. foreign policy.”

The announcement comes just days after China showcased new weapons and military drones, a move widely interpreted as a challenge to U.S. dominance. Instead of de-escalating tensions, critics argue Trump is feeding a dangerous arms race.

Ironically, Trump has also tried to portray himself as a peace-seeker, telling CBS News: “All I can do is put out wars… I just want to save lives.” Yet his record shows otherwise: increased drone strikes, escalated confrontations with Iran and China, military build-ups in Eastern Europe, and unflinching support for Israel’s brutal war on Gaza.

The renaming also coincides with Trump and Hegseth’s campaign to strip the Pentagon of diversity and equity initiatives, dismissing them as “woke ideology.” Critics see this as part of a broader attempt to militarize American society under a hard-right, hyper-nationalist agenda.

Opposition lawmakers in Congress have already signaled that the move will face resistance. Civil society groups warn that reviving the War Department name risks normalizing permanent conflict and undermining decades of efforts to prioritize diplomacy.

“The United States should be leading with diplomacy, not sabre-rattling,” said one peace advocacy organization. “Renaming the Pentagon the ‘Department of War’ is a chilling reminder that this administration is more interested in intimidation than peace.”

For many, the decision is not just a matter of semantics but a reflection of an increasingly aggressive U.S. foreign policy—one that places war at the center of America’s global identity. (ILKHA)