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Trump designates Thursday as a day for US to celebrate victory in World War II. Here's what it means

WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 President Donald Trump has issued a proclamation designating Thursday as a day for the United States to celebrate victory in World War II as countries in Europe already do.
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President Donald Trump speaks before Steve Witkoff is sworn as special envoy during a ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 President has issued designating Thursday as a day for the United States to celebrate victory in World War II as countries in Europe already do.

Cities from London to Moscow are holding parades, flyovers and memorials this week as the world observes of Victory in Europe Day, when surrendered to Allied forces, including the U.S.

Here's what to know about Trump's plans:

What is Trump doing and why?

The Republican president is designating specific days for the U.S. to celebrate being on the winning side in World War I and World War II. He complained in recent social media posts that Americans don't spend enough time celebrating those achievements, which he said wouldn't have been possible without the U.S.

鈥淢any of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II. I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I,鈥 he said last week on social media. 鈥淲e won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything 鈥 That鈥檚 because we don鈥檛 have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!鈥

Can Trump rename an existing federal holiday?

No. Nov. 11 is already Veterans Day, a federal holiday in the U.S., and only Congress can create, rename or take it back. That could explain why Trump backed away from his 鈥渞enaming鈥 plan and said he'd instead be 鈥渄eclaring鈥 national holidays instead.

鈥淲e won two World Wars, but we never took credit for it 鈥 Everyone else does! All over the World, the Allies are celebrating the Victory we had in World War II. The only Country that doesn鈥檛 celebrate is the United States of America, and the Victory was only accomplished because of us,鈥 he wrote Monday on social media. 鈥淲ithout the United States, the War would have been won by other Countries, and what a different World it would be. Therefore, I am hereby declaring a National Holiday in celebration of the Victories of World War I, where the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, and World War II, where the Victory date was May 8, 1945.鈥

He signed a proclamation on Wednesday that designates May 8, 2025, as a 鈥渄ay in celebration of Victory Day for World War II.鈥 He's expected to issue a similar proclamation for World War I later this year.

Is Thursday a day off from work?

No, Thursday is not a federal holiday and therefore not a day off from work. , and Trump has complained that there already are too many of them.

What does he envision will happen around the U.S. on these days?

It's unclear. Trump didn't say what he envisions happening, and the proclamation didn't include any details. But he said during an unrelated appearance Wednesday in the Oval Office that he noticed France and other countries were 鈥渁ll getting ready for Victory Day.鈥

鈥淲e don鈥檛 celebrate it and I think that鈥檚 a great disservice,鈥 Trump said.

What happens in other countries?

On major anniversaries like this year鈥檚 80th, Britain celebrates VE Day with parades, airplane flyovers and memorials. The traditionally watches the airplanes pass overhead from a balcony at Buckingham Palace.

on Friday, and its Victory Day parades are a massive show of its armed forces, with thousands of troops, scores of heavy equipment rolling across Red Square and flyovers involving dozens of warplanes. Military parades, fireworks and other festivities are held in cities across the country.

What have veterans groups said about Trump's plans?

Rob Couture, director of public affairs for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said they are encouraged by any steps that 鈥渂ring attention to the service of veterans from that time.鈥

Just over as of 2024.

鈥-

Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.

Darlene Superville, The Associated Press

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