Trump to Rename Pentagon as 'Department of War' via Executive Order: Tech Leaders Dine at White House

Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Friday that will rename the US Department of Defense as the 'Department of War,' a symbolic reversion to the department’s pre-1947 title, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to The Guardian. This move, which authorizes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to introduce corresponding legislation, signals a potential shift in the administration’s approach to military branding and policy. The decision comes amid a flurry of activity in the early days of Trump’s second term, including high-profile engagements with tech industry leaders and mounting controversies involving key cabinet members. The executive order to rename the Pentagon is seen as a nod to historical nomenclature, harking back to the era before the National Security Act of 1947, which established the modern Department of Defense. While the practical implications of the name change remain unclear, it underscores Trump’s intent to leave a distinct mark on military institutions. Defense Secretary Hegseth, a vocal supporter of Trump’s policies, is expected to champion the legislative efforts required to formalize this change, though congressional approval will likely be necessary for a permanent rebranding. In a separate but equally notable development, Trump hosted a dinner for an array of tech industry titans in the White House State Dining Room on Thursday night. The guest list included prominent figures such as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Google co-founder Sergey Brin. The gathering appeared to be an effort to strengthen ties with Silicon Valley, a sector Trump has both criticized and courted during his political career. However, one notable absence was Elon Musk, a former close ally of Trump, whose exclusion from the event has raised eyebrows given Musk’s significant influence in technology and recent political commentary. The tech dinner comes at a time when Trump’s administration is grappling with multiple controversies. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny during a contentious Senate hearing on Thursday, where he spread vaccine misinformation and deflected calls for his resignation. Kennedy’s claims were directly challenged by Susan Monarez, the ousted director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who rejected his assertion that she had been pressured to endorse vaccine recommendations from a panel of his anti-vaccine allies. Monarez went as far as offering to repeat her denial under oath, intensifying the public clash over vaccine policy within the administration. Adding to the administration’s challenges, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is under investigation by the Justice Department for alleged criminal mortgage fraud. The probe, which includes grand jury subpoenas issued in Georgia and Michigan, centers on accusations that Cook obtained multiple mortgages on a property designated as her primary residence. Trump himself has publicly accused Cook of wrongdoing, though a ProPublica report highlighted a potential double standard, noting that at least three members of Trump’s own cabinet have similar multiple primary-residence mortgages. Legal battles also continue to shadow Trump’s presidency. New York’s Attorney General has moved to reinstate a staggering civil fraud penalty against Trump, appealing a lower court decision that had reduced the potential half-billion-dollar penalty to zero. The case, which centers on allegations of financial misconduct, remains a significant point of contention as Trump navigates his return to the Oval Office. The convergence of these events paints a picture of a second Trump administration marked by bold policy moves, high-stakes engagements, and persistent legal and ethical controversies. The decision to rename the Pentagon, while largely symbolic, reflects Trump’s broader strategy of reshaping federal institutions in line with his vision. At the same time, his outreach to tech leaders suggests an intent to harness innovation and industry support, even as internal cabinet disputes and legal challenges threaten to undermine his agenda. Critics and supporters alike are watching closely as these developments unfold. The renaming of the Department of Defense, if enacted, could set a precedent for further historical revisions within the government, while the tech dinner highlights the administration’s complex relationship with Silicon Valley. Meanwhile, the controversies surrounding Kennedy and Cook underscore the polarizing nature of Trump’s cabinet selections and policy priorities. As the week draws to a close, the administration shows no signs of slowing down. With the executive order on the Pentagon’s name change slated for Friday, alongside ongoing Senate hearings and legal proceedings, the coming days promise to bring further clarity—and potentially more conflict—to Trump’s second term. X.NEWS will continue to monitor these stories as they develop, providing comprehensive coverage of the political, technological, and legal landscapes shaping the nation.