In what critics are calling yet another attention-grabbing move, former President Donald Trump is once again rewriting the calendar—this time by declaring his intention to rename Veterans Day, and the internet is… not impressed.
The former president, already known for his controversial naming decisions—including renaming Mount Denali back to Mount McKinley, Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg, and even an attempt to rebrand the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”—has now turned his sights on national holidays.
On Truth Social, Trump announced he is renaming May 8 as Victory Day for World War II and November 11 as Victory Day for World War I. This would effectively replace the traditional Veterans Day, which has been observed on November 11 since the end of World War I and honors all American military veterans.
The reaction? A collective, digital eye-roll.
“Lol what?” was the immediate sentiment across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and Instagram. People were quick to point out the absurdity and apparent disregard for the broader meaning of Veterans Day, a holiday that honors all service members, not just those who served in the World Wars.
One user summed it up: “What about the other veterans? Korea? Vietnam? Iraq? Afghanistan?” The change, they argued, would erase decades of military service from public commemoration and dishonor those who served outside of the two world wars.
Others questioned whether the announcement was real or satire. “I had to double-check. It sounds like an Onion article,” one X user wrote. Unfortunately for them, it wasn’t.
The backlash didn’t stop there. Critics also viewed the move as another attempt to rewrite history to fit Trump’s preferred narrative of “American greatness.” Some mocked the announcement by saying, “Next he’s gonna say that Captain America is based on him…”
The executive order Trump cited—“Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness”—has already been the source of considerable controversy. His insistence on undoing name changes and repurposing symbols of American identity has drawn praise from hardline supporters and condemnation from historians, veterans’ groups, and civil rights organizations.
Renaming Veterans Day is especially inflammatory because of its deeply rooted history. Originally known as Armistice Day, the holiday commemorated the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. In 1954, it was officially renamed Veterans Day to honor all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Changing that name to “Victory Day” is being perceived as not just tone-deaf, but disrespectful to the millions of veterans who served in other conflicts—and to the spirit of the holiday itself, which emphasizes reflection, gratitude, and sacrifice, not just triumph.
A few supporters echoed Trump’s call to “celebrate victory again,” but the overwhelming majority of online responses were dismissive. Some called it another “distraction play,” diverting attention from ongoing legal troubles and a fraught political campaign.
For now, there’s no indication that Congress or the Department of Veterans Affairs is recognizing Trump’s proposed name change. But with November 11 approaching later this year, one thing is clear: this conversation isn’t over.
Whether seen as a political gimmick or a sincere effort at “restoring tradition,” Trump’s move to rename Veterans Day has ignited strong backlash—and reminded Americans just how powerful a name can be.