Trump Declares May 8 as 'Victory Day' for World War II
Eighty years after Allied troops declared victory in Europe, President Donald Trump has declared that May 8 will now be known in the U.S. as Victory Day for World War II. The move aligns the U.S. more closely with the VE Day commemorations long observed in Europe. An unmistakably a Trump-era stamp on American history.
"We did more than any other country, by far, in producing a victorious result," Trump said in his proclamation, casting the U.S. not just as a partner in victory, but as the architect of it.
That wasn’t all. Trump also proposed that Veterans Day, traditionally observed on November 11 to honor all U.S. military veterans, be rebranded as Victory Day for World War I. The goal, he said, is to “start celebrating our victories again.”
What Makes VE Day Significant?
May 8 honors the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender in 1945. While Europe has long observed it as VE Day, the U.S. has tended to treat it as one of many wartime remembrance dates. Acknowledged, but not federally formalized.
President Trump says the U.S. deserves to take greater credit for its role in defeating fascism in the 20th century. His supporters argue it’s long overdue recognition of American leadership. His critics say it’s historical oversimplification.
Supporters Applaud a Patriotic Shift
Trump’s move has been praised in conservative circles as a bold, patriotic gesture. One that corrects what they view as decades of downplaying American achievements on the world stage.
Some veterans, particularly those who served in World War II or came from families who did, welcomed the idea of formal national recognition for May 8.
“It’s something we’ve marked privately for years,” said Harold Knox, 96, a D-Day Veteran from Ohio. “Now it finally feels official.”
'Victory Day' Proclamation Faces Pushback
Several veterans' organizations and historians presented concerns regarding the implications of renaming Veterans Day, a holiday meant to honor all who have served.
“Turning Veterans Day into a World War I holiday would erase the service of millions from other wars,” said Amanda Chavez, director of a nonprofit veteran's advocacy group. “We don’t need less inclusivity in our national memory—we need more.”
Others say the tone of the proclamation turns what is meant to be a day of remembrance into a political talking point.
What's Next?
Trump’s Victory Day proclamations are not binding law, but they could influence future legislative action if adopted by Congress. As with many of Trump’s policy gestures, the weight of implementation may fall to states and local governments or be left to history.
What’s clear is that the president is once again positioning himself as the architect of a more self-celebratory American identity. Whether it sticks is a question for voters, veterans, and the pages of tomorrow’s history books.