President Trump boldly reverses course on military history, ordering the restoration of Confederate officers’ names to seven Army bases in a direct repudiation of Biden-era changes aimed at erasing historical recognition.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to restore Confederate names to seven U.S. military bases previously renamed during the Biden administration.
- The restored bases include Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Rucker, Fort Polk, Fort AP Hill, Fort Pickett, and Fort Robert E. Lee.
- Trump cited both superstition and historical significance as reasons for maintaining the original base names.
- The Biden-era renaming came after a three-year process initiated following Black Lives Matter protests.
- Fort Bragg, renamed Fort Liberty in 2023, will now honor World War II hero Pfc. Roland L. Bragg rather than Confederate General Braxton Bragg.
Trump’s Military Base Restoration Order
In a significant reversal of Biden administration policy, President Trump announced his administration will restore the original Confederate-linked names to seven U.S. Army bases. The announcement came during a military demonstration at Fort Bragg, where Trump addressed troops and military officials. This move directly counters the renaming process that began in 2021 after Black Lives Matter protests and was completed under Biden in 2023, which removed names of Confederate officers from military installations across the country.
“We won a lot of battles out of those forts. It’s no time to change. And I’m superstitious. I like to keep it going, right? I’m very superstitious. We want to keep it going,” Trump said during his announcement at Fort Bragg, underscoring his belief in preserving the historical significance of these military installations.
The Bases Returning to Confederate Names
The bases affected by Trump’s order include Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Gordon in Georgia, Fort Rucker in Alabama, Fort Polk in Louisiana, and three bases in Virginia: Fort AP Hill, Fort Pickett, and Fort Robert E. Lee. These installations had been renamed during the Biden administration following recommendations from the Pentagon’s Naming Commission established in 2022. The original Confederate names were established in the mid-20th century when Jim Crow laws were still in effect throughout much of the South.
“For a little breaking news, we are also going to be restoring the names to Fort Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Rucker, Fort Polk, Fort A.P. Hill and Fort Robert E. Lee,” Trump announced during his speech.
The Special Case of Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg, one of the most recognized Army installations in the country and home to airborne and special operations forces, presents a unique situation in this renaming controversy. Initially named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg, it was renamed Fort Liberty in 2023 as part of Biden’s initiative. However, under Trump’s new Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, the base will now be named after Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero, allowing the “Bragg” name to remain while disconnecting it from Confederate legacy.
“We won two world wars in those forts,” Trump emphasized, highlighting the emotional and historical connection many service members and veterans feel toward these military installations regardless of their original namesakes.
Legal and Practical Considerations
Questions remain about whether Trump possesses the necessary legal authority to restore the original names without additional congressional approval. This is particularly uncertain for installations like Fort A.P. Hill and Fort Robert E. Lee, which may require specific legislative action. The Biden administration’s renaming process followed a carefully structured three-year timetable and involved a commission specifically tasked with removing tributes to Confederate leaders from military properties.
The restoration effort represents a clear departure from the previous administration’s approach to historical recognition within the military. By choosing to announce this decision at Fort Bragg rather than waiting for a military parade in Washington, D.C., Trump signaled the importance he places on this issue. The president’s action reinforces his commitment to preserving historical names that many service members have strong emotional connections to, despite criticism from those who view the Confederate names as symbols of America’s racist past.
