On Sep. 6–7, 2025, President Donald Trump posted a one-minute clip on Truth Social showing Pete Hegseth, styled as “War Secretary,” reading lines—sometimes from notes—about renaming the Department of Defense and emphasizing a tougher posture.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump posted a one-minute promotional video to Truth Social on Sep. 6, 2025, promoting a rebrand of the Department of Defense as the “Department of War.”
- Pete Hegseth, introduced in the clip as the “War Secretary,” appears to consult notes while speaking and delivers several scripted lines.
- Hegseth said the change is “about restoring” and used the phrase “fight to win, not not to lose,” which contains a double-negative in the video.
- Trump signed an executive order on Friday applying the new label, but presidents cannot unilaterally rename federal departments under existing law, so the title is effectively a secondary label.
- The video’s tone mixes corporate-style messaging and jingoistic language, drawing attention for style as much as substance.
Verified Facts
The video was posted to President Trump’s Truth Social account on Sep. 6, 2025; the post timestamp cited in the original coverage is Sep. 06, 2025, 7:40 PM ET. The clip runs roughly one minute and features Pete Hegseth speaking to camera about the rebranded agency’s mission and tone.
In the clip Hegseth says, in part, “This name change is not just about renaming, it’s about restoring,” and later, “It’s going to fight to win, not not to lose.” He also signs off with a corporate-style line: “America first, peace through strength, brought to you by the War Department.” The doubled negative in the second sentence is audible in the public clip.
The president signed an executive order on Friday applying the “Department of War” label to the Defense Department. Legal experts and precedent note that a president’s executive order cannot formally change federal department names in statute; official renaming generally requires congressional action or statutory amendment.
Context & Impact
Rebranding a major federal agency carries symbolic weight: administration rhetoric can shape public expectations about posture and priorities, even when legal authority to make permanent organizational changes is limited. The administration framed the label as setting a tone rather than as a statutory alteration.
The clip’s style—brief, scripted, and slogan-driven—mirrors modern political media tactics that prioritize shareable soundbites. Critics and supporters are likely to respond more to the messaging and symbolism than to immediate policy shifts, given the lack of statutory renaming.
Operationally, day-to-day Defense Department functions and laws governing the department remain unchanged unless Congress or courts take subsequent action. However, public-facing nomenclature can affect morale, alliances, and diplomatic messaging if sustained over time.
Official Statements
“This name change is not just about renaming, it’s about restoring. It’s going to fight to win, not not to lose…America first, peace through strength, brought to you by the War Department.”
Pete Hegseth, quoted from Truth Social clip
Unconfirmed
- No verifiable evidence in the video that statutory procedures to permanently rename the Department of Defense have been completed; the claim of a formal legal renaming is unconfirmed.
- Any immediate operational changes tied directly to the new label—budgets, contracts, or treaty obligations—are not shown in the clip and remain unverified.
Bottom Line
The short promotional video emphasizes a rhetorical rebrand and a tougher posture, but its practical effect is limited: an executive order alone does not legally rename a federal department. The clip is notable for its tone and presentation—Hegseth’s reliance on notes and a slogan-heavy sign-off—rather than for evidence of immediate policy or structural change.