Trump Declares May 8th as ‘Victory Day’ for WWII – ‘Finally, the US Takes Its Due’

In a highly symbolic move, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation today (08.05.2025) recognizing the role of the United States in World War II. Specifically, Trump declared May 8th as ‘Victory Day in World War II,’ asserting that ‘it’s time for the U.S. to take credit for its achievements.’ ‘The victory was achieved primarily thanks to us, whether people like it or not,’ Trump added, while announcing plans to establish another ‘Victory Day’ on November 11th, this time for World War I. The Republican had previously announced these plans on Monday (05.05.2025) via the social media platform Truth Social. ‘I noticed that France and other countries are preparing to celebrate Victory Day,’ he noted, also mentioning Russia, which is set to host a grand celebration tomorrow (on May 9th), having suffered millions of casualties and significantly contributing to the defeat of Nazi Germany. However, Trump emphasized that no one contributed as much as the U.S. ‘We received a lot of help from incredible people, incredible allies, but I believe no one will argue that we weren’t the dominant force,’ he said regarding both world wars. Nevertheless, he clarified that May 8th would not be a federal holiday in the U.S., as noted in the White House statement. November 11th is already a federal holiday honoring veterans, and the White House indicated that the ‘Victory Day’ for WWI would complement, not replace, this observance. The U.S. played a crucial role in both world wars, providing significant military support and material aid. However, it was not the country with the largest number of troops nor the highest casualties. In World War I, the U.S. joined in 1917 due to intensified German submarine attacks on American merchant ships, mobilizing 4 million men, far fewer than European allies. Similarly, in World War II, after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the U.S. lost 416,800 soldiers, more than Britain (383,600), but significantly fewer than the Soviet Union, whose losses are estimated at 8.8 to 10.7 million.