President Donald Trump sparked controversy with his proposal to rename Veterans Day to "Victory Day for World War I" as a way to celebrate the United States' military victories, he announced on social media on May 1.
In addition, Trump expressed his desire to designate May 8 as "Victory Day for World War II."
Trump emphasized the importance of celebrating the nation's victories, stating, "We are going to start celebrating our victories again!" on his social media platform Truth Social.
Veterans Day, currently observed on Nov. 11, commemorates the end of fighting in World War I and honors American veterans for their service, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Although May 8 is recognized as Victory in Europe Day in some European countries, it is not a federal holiday in the United States.
Trump's proposal aims to acknowledge the U.S.'s efforts in both World Wars I and II by renaming Veterans Day and formally recognizing May 8 as a significant date in American history.
The creation of federal holidays, including their names, is determined through the legislative process in Congress. While federal holidays only apply to federal employees and the District of Columbia, individual states establish their legal holidays, as outlined by the Congressional Research Service.
Despite Trump's push for changes, Nov. 11 will continue to be recognized as Veterans Day in the U.S., honoring the end of World War I and celebrating the nation's veterans.
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Veterans Day, first established as a federal holiday in 1938, was renamed from "Armistice Day" to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all American veterans, as per the VA.
While Trump's proposal to make May 8 a holiday remains unacknowledged at the federal level, the date historically signifies Victory in Europe Day, marking Germany's surrender in World War II to the Allies, including the U.S., according to the Department of Defense.
Melina Khan, a trending reporter covering national news for USA TODAY, can be contacted at MKhan@gannett.com.