Victory Day in the First World War in the United States

November 11 has been considered a symbolic turning point for over a century: the armistice that ended the First World War was signed on November 11, 1918. Internationally, this day is often celebrated as Armistice Day (Remembrance Day) to commemorate the painful history, the victims and the beginning of a peace process. In the USA, this day is traditionally observed as Veterans Day, on which all war veterans are honored, regardless of the specific conflict.

The date was recently given a new emphasis by a public statement by former President Donald Trump (2025). In a post on his social media platform “Truth Social”, Trump announced that in future he would refer to November 11 as “Victory Day in the First World War”. This reorientation is intended to highlight the military genius, strength and bravery of the US armed forces in that conflict - an approach that celebrates the event less as a day of silent remembrance and more as a day of triumph. This contrasts with the previous culture of remembrance, which tends to remember the bitter costs and sacrifices of war.

This proposed renaming and reinterpretation brings with it some special features. For one, it changes the traditional narrative that uses November 11 as an occasion to reflect on the traumatic experiences and sacrifices of the war years. Secondly, the focus is placed on American victories and military superiority - an approach that is seen by supporters as a strengthening of national pride, while critics fear a one-sided interpretation of history and potential revisionism. In addition, the approval of the US Congress is still required in order to legally and administratively anchor such a new day of remembrance, which means that the political discourse surrounding this reorganization remains controversial.

These developments also open the door to wider discussions about how national identity and historical events are interpreted and celebrated in public memory in a modern way.