Pete Hegseth, the White House’s secretary of defense and a former Fox News personality, stumbled over the administration’s newly prescribed nickname for the Pentagon Monday in an Oval Office event, prompting laughter and a brief exchange with President Donald Trump.
“From day one, the DOD. Excuse me, DOW. The Department of War,” Hegseth said, immediately correcting himself as people in the room chuckled. He apologized, and Trump responded, “I’m glad you made that correction,” which drew further laughter.
The exchange came after Trump directed that the Department of Defense be referred to as the "Department of War" as a secondary name. Administration aides have said the change is a presidential designation rather than a statutory renaming; an act of Congress would be required for an official change to the department's legal name.
Hegseth’s gaffe underscored the unusual nature of the move, which has drawn attention both inside and outside Washington. Critics online seized on the moment to lampoon what they described as the symbolic nature of the rebranding. One social media post cited the expense of replacing stationery and signs, writing, "I just can't get over how many millions we're going to spend. just changing the letterhead and signs for this useless name change." Others focused on the broader implications of adopting the war-focused label for a department long known by its defense-oriented mission.
Administration officials have framed the secondary name as a reflection of a more assertive national security posture. Trump and his aides have said the designation emphasizes readiness for conflict and a willingness to use military force where the president deems it necessary. Legal experts and lawmakers have pointed out that while a president can issue orders and directives to agencies, changing a department’s formal name requires congressional legislation and would involve procedural and budgetary considerations.
Hegseth’s role in the administration has been closely watched since his appointment. He rose to public prominence as a television host and commentator before joining the government. The Oval Office moment was brief and marked by light laughter rather than any substantive dispute; neither Hegseth nor the White House issued an extended statement about the exchange.
The episode adds to the rolling public conversation about the Trump administration’s approach to military policy and institutional nomenclature. Congress would need to act to make the Department of War an official legal name, a step that many lawmakers have signaled would trigger deliberations over the implications for the department’s mission, organization and budget.
For now, the designation remains a presidentially declared secondary name, and the practical operations, authorities and statutory responsibilities of the Department of Defense remain unchanged absent legislative action. The brief flub in the Oval Office illustrated the immediate, media-friendly ripple effects of the administration’s move, drawing attention from critics and supporters alike as the nation continues to debate the proper framing of U.S. military policy.