President Donald Trump speaks to troops in North Carolina in June 2025. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)
Trump said the name is "a much more appropriate name, especially in light of where the world is right now."
"We have the strongest military in the world. We have the greatest equipment in the world. We have the greatest men. New factories of equipment, by far. There's nobody to even compete," he said.
Turning to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump said while smiling, "I'd like to ask our, secretary of war, to say a few words."
Hegseth thanked Trump for signing the order, saying, the name change restores the "warrior ethos" to America’s military.
HEGSETH VOWS TO REBUILD MILITARY DETERRENCE SO ENEMIES 'DON'T WANT TO F--- WITH US'
A military member watches at the southern border. (Reuters )
The executive order calls for using the Department of War as a secondary title for the Department of Defense, along with phrases like "secretary of war" for Hegseth, according to a White House fact sheet previously shared with Fox News Digital.
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It’s unclear if Congress, which has the authority to establish federal executive departments, will need to step in to issue final approval on the move. However, Trump expressed confidence the name will stick, saying, "We're going with it, and we're going with it very strongly … but we'll put it before Congress."
Fox News Digital's Diana Stancy and Emma Colton contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-signs-order-renaming-pentagon-back-department-war