President Trump suggested renaming the Ministry of National Defense to the Department of War.
According to foreign media outlets such as CBS and Politico on the 25th (local time), President Trump stated during a press meeting with President Lee Jae-myung at the White House, "I plan to revert the Ministry of National Defense to its previous aggressive name within a week."
President Trump noted, "The Ministry of National Defense was called the Department of War during the victories of World War I and World War II," adding, "Everyone likes to remember the victories of the Department of War, but it was changed to the Ministry of National Defense."
Previously, the U.S. Department of Defense existed as the Department of War from 1789 to 1947. The Army and Air Force were part of the Department of War at that time, while the Navy existed independently under the name Navy Department. However, in 1947, former President Harry Truman separated the Department of War and established a cabinet-level agency, placing the Army, Navy, and Air Force under it, which led to the rebirth of the Department of War as the Ministry of National Defense.
Earlier, President Trump referred to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the NATO summit in June, saying, "He was named 'Secretary of War' while pursuing political correctness, and he is now called the Secretary of Defense."
However, it is expected that congressional approval will be needed for the name change to be implemented, as the Ministry of National Defense was established according to the law passed by Congress in 1947.
However, President Trump said regarding this matter, "I do not think it is necessary (to have congressional approval)," adding, "If we need it, Congress will follow."