Trump to make "exciting" Pentagon announcement, says White House

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to deliver what the White House has described as an “exciting” announcement concerning the Department of Defence later on September 1.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the president would make the statement at 2:00 p.m. local time, though she declined to give further details.

The comment was first reported by Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich on X, citing Leavitt.

President Trump has previously expressed interest in renaming the Department of Defence to the "Department of War," a title used until 1947 before it was changed under President Harry S. Truman to reflect a focus on defence and military cohesion post-World War II.

On August 25, 2025, Trump stated that the name "War Department" sounded better and highlighted the U.S.’s history of military victories under that title. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has echoed this sentiment, emphasising a return to a "warrior ethos." 

An amendment to rename the DoD was filed by Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) to the annual defence policy bill, though it faces procedural hurdles in Congress.

The White House has indicated that this change could be implemented within a week, potentially bypassing Congressional approval, though such a move would likely face legal and political challenges.

By Aghakazim Guliyev