‘May Day’ protests push back against Trump administration policies
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President Donald Trump wants to rename Veterans Day to “Victory Day for World War I” as a way to celebrate the United States’ military victories, he said in a social media post on May 1.
He also said he’s pushing to recognize May 8 as “Victory Day for World War II.”
“We are going to start celebrating our victories again!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
Veterans Day is a federal holiday recognized each year on Nov. 11. It marks the date when fighting ceased in World War I, though it also generally honors American veterans for their willingness to serve, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
May 8 is not a federal holiday in the United States, though it is recognized as Victory in Europe Day in several European countries.
Why does Trump want to rename Veterans Day?
Trump said on social media that he’s pushing to rename Veterans Day and to formally recognize May 8 in the United States as a way to acknowledge the United States’ efforts in World Wars I and II.
“We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything — That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore, that know how to do so!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Federal holidays — including their names — are created through the legislative process in Congress. Technically, federal holidays are only applicable to federal employees and the District of Columbia, meaning states individually determine their legal holidays, according to the Congressional Research Service.
What does Veterans Day recognize?
Veterans Day is one of the 11 federal holidays observed in the United States each year, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
The day recognizes the end of fighting in World War I, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. While the war between Germany and the Allied Powers officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, fighting ended seven months earlier on Nov. 11, 1918, according to the VA.
Because of the significance of the date, Veterans Day falls on Nov. 11 annually regardless of the day of the week. In addition to recognizing the end of fighting in World War I, it also serves as a general celebration of America’s veterans, according to the VA.
Nov. 11 was first made a federal holiday in 1938 and was known as “Armistice Day” until 1954 when Congress renamed it Veterans Day, according to the VA.
What is Victory Day? Does the United States recognize May 8 as a holiday?
Though Trump said he’s pushing to make May 8 a holiday, the date is not federally recognized in the United States.
It generally marks Victory in Europe Day, when Germany surrendered its military forces to the Allies, including the United States, in World War II, according to the Department of Defense.
Melina Khan is a trending reporter covering national news for USA TODAY. She can be reached at [email protected].