DoD renamed ‘Department of War’ with Trump’s executive order

WASHINGTON — President Trump signed an executive order Friday seeking to restore the Department of Defense’s name to the “Department of War.”

“I think it sends a message of victory,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s a very important change because it’s an attitude.”

The name Department of Defense has been used since 1949 pursuant to legislation signed by President Harry S. Truman.

Trump said that he believes the rebranding won’t cost much money and that he doesn’t think he needs congressional approval, but that he will seek it anyhow.

“I’m not sure they have to. We’re signing an executive order today, but we’re going to find out,” Trump said. “We’ll put it before Congress.”

Follow The Post’s live coverage of President Trump and national politics for the latest news and analysis

Trump contended that the 1949 renaming had undermined the military’s effectiveness.

“We won the First World War. We won the Second World War. We won everything before that and in between. And then we decided to go woke and we changed it into Department of Defense,” Trump said.