• After two world wars, Congress deliberately changed the name from the War Department to the Department of Defense to send a message—America’s military power exists to defend liberty and keep peace, not to wage war.
• Even Ronald Reagan, who coined “peace through strength,” understood that America’s might is best used to prevent war, not glorify it.
• With wars raging in Ukraine and Gaza, reviving “War Department” is as dangerous as it is foolish. And legally, Trump can’t change the name without Congress—though he’s already using it as a tagline.
John Izzo explains why Trump’s push to rename the Department of Defense as the “War Department” is historically misguided and politically dangerous. The change after WWII was meant to signal that U.S. power defends peace, not glorifies war. With global conflicts already raging, this idea risks fueling more division and conflict.
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🎙 From The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations Podcast with Dr. John Izzo & Alain Gauthier.
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🙏 Thanks to Elders Action Network (https://eldersaction.org) & Elders Climate Action (https://eldersclimateaction.org