Trump Signs Order Restoring Department of War

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22 hrs ago

Above: U.S. President Donald Trump displays an executive order on the Defense Department in the Oval Office on Sept. 5. Image copyright: Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg/Getty Images

story last updated 20 hrs ago

The Spin

Republican narrative

Under the original name, the U.S. won World War I, World War II and everything in between. But after, it went woke and the U.S. has not won a major war since because it never fought to win. The restoration of the old name sends a signal that the U.S. is about victory and that it will deliver peace by overwhelming strength.

Daily Wire Trump White House

Democratic narrative

There is a reason that the old name was abolished and similar titles for their respective departments are used by all of America's allies. Even countries like Russia, China and Iran have defense departments. Changing the name doesn't make the U.S. any stronger. It simply implies that it will defy the U.N. charter that abolished war as a tool of statecraft. In a world already fraught with uncertainty, such a move projects weakness, not strength.

Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)

Establishment-critical narrative

For years, the U.S. has illegally invaded smaller countries and overthrown their governments. Never were these wars truly about defending the U.S. — they were imperial wars of aggression that were waged for economic benefit. This rebrand is long overdue as it finally describes the department's true intentions, shedding any sign of pretence.

Unherd