US President Donald Trump announced his intention to rename Veterans Day to “Victory Day for World War I“. At the same time, he proposes that May 8 be celebrated as “Victory Day in World War II“. The news was reported by Politico, referring to a post by Trump on his social network Truth Social, News.bg reports.
“The United States did much more than its allies to win World War II. We won both wars. No one was close to us in strength, bravery or military brilliance, but we no longer celebrate those victories“, Trump emphasized. He added that his country needs new leadership that "knows how to celebrate success."
The proposal to change the meaning of November 11 - traditionally celebrated as Veterans Day - has generated significant public interest. The holiday dates back to the end of World War I and was originally known as Armistice Day. In the 1950s, it was expanded to honor all American veterans, and in 1968, it was declared an official federal holiday.
Today's Veterans Day honors those who served in multiple American military conflicts - from World War II to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Trump's proposal comes in the context of sensitive historical memory. Although May 8 is commemorated as the day Nazi Germany surrendered, the United States continued hostilities against Japan until September 1945, when it surrendered after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Trump's claim that the United States played a leading role in winning World War II is likely to draw criticism from Russia. Moscow often highlights the heavy Soviet losses during the conflict - nearly 9 million soldiers and an estimated 19 million civilians died.