A video of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tightening the final screw on a “Department of War” sign drew mockery on Thursday.
The Pentagon’s rapid response account shared the clip on X, formerly Twitter.
“Welcome to the War Department,” it captioned the clip, here:
President Donald Trump issued an executive order to rebrand the Department of Defense with its more aggressive name in September because, he claimed, it “ensures peace through strength, as it demonstrates our ability and willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our Nation at a moment’s notice, not just to defend.”
The move could reportedly cost up to $2 billion.
Critics of Hegseth’s video said the changing of the sign, while changing little else, captured the administration’s performative approach.
Others noted that Congress still has to approve any official renaming, meaning the “Department of War” and Hegseth’s preferred title of secretary of war are currently just secondary.