Trump Orders New Army Base Names Amid Controversy

President Donald Trump announced that several U.S. Army bases, previously renamed following racial justice protests, will now bear the names of highly decorated U.S. soldiers who share surnames with the original Confederate generals, rather than restoring the Confederate names directly. This change is a response to Congressional bans on honoring Confederates. The Pentagon, under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, stated that bases such as Fort Bragg, Fort Benning, and Fort Lee will honor Medal of Honor recipients and other distinguished service members. The decision has sparked controversy, with critics claiming it circumvents the intent of laws enacted after the George Floyd protests to remove Confederate symbolism from military property. During his announcement at Fort Bragg, Trump also criticized protesters in Los Angeles, labeling them 'animals' and 'a foreign enemy,' and defended military deployments related to immigration enforcement. The implementation of the new base names is expected to take several months.