Here’s what Trump said.
Arlington, VA – In a powerful and emotional address at Arlington National Cemetery, President Donald J. Trump honored America’s veterans and proposed a historic change — renaming Veterans Day to “Victory Day.”
Broadcast live on Newsmax and Newsmax2, Trump’s speech celebrated the courage, sacrifice, and triumph of America’s military heroes while calling for a return to the nation’s winning spirit.
“Today is not only Veterans Day,” Trump declared to thunderous applause. “It’s my proclamation that we are now going to be saying Victory Day.”
🇺🇸 “We’re the Ones Who Won the Wars”
Trump noted that while countries like France and others mark their own Victory Days, the United States — the nation that actually won both World Wars — has never officially done so.
“France celebrates Victory Day. So do others. But we’re the ones who actually won the wars,” Trump said. “From now on, we’ll say Victory Day for World War I and World War II — and maybe more someday, because we’ve won a lot of good ones.”
The president emphasized that America’s victories must once again be celebrated, not forgotten, as part of restoring the pride, power, and patriotism that define the nation.
💪 Restoring America’s Pride and Strength
Linking the announcement to his broader mission to rebuild national confidence, Trump hailed the restoration of the historic War Department name — signaling a renewed era of strength over weakness.
“We won World War I. We won World War II. We won everything in between,” Trump said proudly, as cheers erupted from the crowd of veterans and military families.
Standing alongside Vice President JD Vance, a Marine Corps veteran and the first Marine to ever hold the vice presidency, Trump praised him as “a great man” and “a very good decision.”
Trump expressed heartfelt gratitude to the nation’s heroes, saying, “Too often we forget to say the words that matter most — thank you for your service. You’ve borne the weight of America’s destiny with strength and pride.”
🏅 Trump’s Record on Veterans: “We Put America’s Heroes First”
Trump took the opportunity to remind Americans of his strong record of results for veterans, boasting of a 92% satisfaction rating for veterans’ services — a dramatic improvement over what he said was a 38% rating under Joe Biden’s previous administration.
He credited Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for cutting red tape, improving care, and restoring respect for those who served.
“Our administration rebuilt the VA, restored efficiency, and brought back pride in our armed forces,” Trump said. “We believe in peace through strength — and that’s exactly what we’ve achieved.”
🕊 “America Stands Tall Because Our Veterans Stood Strong”
Closing his speech with reverence and resolve, President Trump paid tribute to the fallen and reaffirmed his vision for a renewed, victorious America.
“America stands tall because America’s veterans stood so strong,” he declared. “And soon, our country will be stronger than ever before.”
The event, steeped in patriotism and tradition, left veterans and families deeply moved — a moment of gratitude, unity, and renewed national pride.