• Trump proposes renaming May 8 and November 11 as "Victory Days" for WWII and WWI.
• The plan aims to celebrate American military victories more prominently.
• No executive order has been issued; legality of the changes is questioned.
• Critics highlight historical inaccuracies and implications for Veterans Day.
• Trump's proposal raises questions about presidential authority over federal holidays.

President Donald Trump announced his intention to rename May 8 as "Victory Day for World War II" and November 11 as "Victory Day for World War I," seeking to enhance the recognition of U.S. military victories. He expressed his sentiments on Truth Social, emphasizing that many allied nations commemorate these dates and stating, "We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance" according to Newsweek and TRT Global.

Despite Trump's declarations, there are significant questions regarding the legal authority of the President to rename established federal holidays. Veterans Day, which commemorates all U.S. military veterans, was originally Armistice Day, established to honor the end of World War I. A change to its designation would require congressional approval, as only Congress has the power to create or amend federal holidays, according to Newsweek and BBC.

Trump’s proposal has led to criticism, particularly concerning historical accuracy. Many point out that World War II did not formally end for the United States until Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, which raises questions about the appropriateness of designating May 8 as the official "Victory Day." Critics have also noted that this change would limit the scope of Veterans Day, traditionally honoring all veterans, to just those who served in World War I, as highlighted in the coverage by HuffPost and BBC.

For any formal changes, Trump would need to pursue Congressional action, as neither a proclamation nor an executive order would suffice to impose these changes unilaterally. Legal experts reiterate that renaming national observances requires legislative enactments rather than mere declarations by the presidency, according to Newsweek and TRT Global.