(The Hill) — President Donald Trump on Monday said he is establishing two new national holidays, one of which will fall on a date already designated as Veterans Day.
The holidays, Trump explained on Truth Social, are meant to commemorate the end of World Wars I and II, landing on November 11 and May 8, respectively.
Trump teases ‘very big announcement’ ahead of Middle East trip
In the post, Trump reiterated his view that the U.S. should be celebrating its military victories, as some other countries do.
“We won two World Wars, but we never took credit for it — Everyone else does!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “All over the World, the Allies are celebrating the Victory we had in World War II. The only Country that doesn’t celebrate is the United States of America, and the Victory was only accomplished because of us.”
He added: “Therefore, I am hereby declaring a National Holiday in celebration of the Victories of World War I, where the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, and World War II, where the Victory date was May 8, 1945.”
Trump said the country would not be closing “for these two very important Holidays,” since “we already have too many Holidays in America — There are not enough days left in the year.”
Nov. 11 is already commemorated each year as the all-encompassing Veterans Day. The day, which became a legal holiday in May 1938, honors those who fought in American wars and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Flag Day: Are you displaying the US flag correctly?
It was initially known as Armistice Day, and honored veterans of World War I. The day was later renamed to Veterans Day after World War II to honor all U.S. veterans from every war. Great Britain, France, Australia, and Canada also honor their veterans of World War I and World War II on or near November 11.
Trump expressed his desire last week to commemorate the victories of World War I and II with national holidays, saying he wanted to rename Veterans Day “Victory Day for World War I Day” and add another holiday to mark the WWII victory.
The following day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified in a statement that the administration is “not renaming Veterans Day… It will just be an additional proclamation that goes out on that day.”
