Donald Trump officials have dropped a major clue about what his mysterious announcement, set to take place later today (2 September), will be about.
Now, for context, the internet has been sent into quite the spiral after clocking that the 79-year-old Republican made no media appearances in the past week with statements like 'Where is Donald Trump' and 'Is Trump dead' ranking among Google’s top US searches, while 'TRUMPISDEAD' trending on X over the weekend (30 August).
So, with all this speculation floating about on social media, it's understandable why so many people - supporters and critics alike - were so invested following the news that he was set to make an Oval Office announcement today.
Initially, the White House stated that Trump alone would be making the announcement, sparking a bunch of conspiracy theories online surrounding his health and possible resignation.
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However, aides of the president have since informed Politico that the announcement would actually be focused on defense.
"The President will be making an exciting announcement related to the Department of Defense," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed later Tuesday morning.
Speaking of defense, Trump announced last week that he wants to the rename Department of Defense with a brand-new title - Department of War.
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He stated his plans to ignore the need for an Act of Congress to change the name of the DOD, which was named under America's 33rd US President Harry S. Truman, who aimed to improve efficiency and cohesion in the US military.
"We call it the Department of Defense, but between us, I think we’re going to change the name," he told reporters during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House last Monday (25 August).
Later that day, in a separate event, Trump said he wanted the name change because 'we want defense, but we want offense, too'.
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Trump suggested in the next few weeks he would revert to the pre-1947 'Department of War' name, which was used until shortly after World War II.
And, when asked how he planned to do that when it requires an Act of Congress, he simply declared: "We're just going to do it. I'm sure Congress will go along if we need that. I don't think we even need that."
"It just to me, seems like a just a much more appropriate… the other is, 'Defense' is too defensive. And we want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive, too if we have to be. So, it just sounded to me better," Trump added.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News
Rhiannon Ingle