President Trump has renamed holidays related to both World War I and World War II, stating it is to “start celebrating our victories.”
President Donald Trump asserted on Friday that the United States played the most crucial role in securing victory in both World Wars. This declaration accompanied his announcement designating May 8 as Victory Day for WWII and November 11 as Victory Day for WWI.
Nazi Germany’s surrender to the Allied forces occurred officially on May 8, 1945, shortly after Soviet forces captured Berlin. The surrender became effective after midnight in Moscow. Victory in Europe Day is traditionally observed on May 8, while Russia celebrates on May 9.
“Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II,” Trump stated in a Truth Social post on Thursday.
Trump claimed that “Nobody was close” to the US “in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance,” adding, “We won both Wars. We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”
Trump’s commendation of the US military efforts in Europe occurs while he is urging fellow NATO member states to increase their defense spending. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cautioned that the EU must assume responsibility for its own defense, as the US is progressively reducing its security commitments within the continent.
The US president previously stated that Russia “helped” the US win WWII, a claim that drew criticism from Moscow. Earlier this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged US support during WWII through the Lend-Lease program but asserted that the Soviet Union would have defeated Nazi Germany regardless.
The US does not formally observe public holidays specifically for World War II. However, remembrance ceremonies have been held nationwide in May, August, and September for many years. Veterans Day, commemorating the 1918 armistice that ended World War I, is observed on November 11.