Video above: Trump designates Thursday May 8 as ‘Victory Day’ for US to commemorate World War II
(NEXSTAR) — Earlier this year, President Donald Trump established two new national holidays, one of which has already been celebrated. So when is the next one?
It’s not far off, and it’s already marked on your calendar.
Trump explained on Truth Social in May that both holidays are meant to commemorate the ends of World Wars I and II.
“We won two World Wars, but we never took credit for it — Everyone else does!” Trump remarked at the time. “All over the World, the Allies are celebrating the Victory we had in World War II. The only Country that doesn’t celebrate is the United States of America, and the Victory was only accomplished because of us.”
The first of those holidays, marking the end of World War II, was on May 8.
The next holiday will happen in just a few months, on November 11. This date is already recognized as Veterans Day, which became a legal holiday in May 1938 to honor those who served in American wars and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Originally called Armistice Day, it commemorated veterans of World War I. The name was changed to Veterans Day after World War II to honor all U.S. veterans from every war. Great Britain, France, Australia, and Canada also pay tribute to their veterans of World War I and World War II on or around November 11.
Trump initially suggested renaming Veterans Day to “Victory Day for World War I Day.” However, a day later, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Veterans Day would not be renamed, and the new holiday would “just be an additional proclamation.”
If you already have November 11 off to observe Veterans Day, that will continue. As Veterans Day is a federal holiday, banks and government offices, among others, close for the day. However, for those who don’t get Veterans Day off, that will remain unchanged.
Trump previously said the country would not be closing for the two “very important Holidays” because “we already have too many Holidays in America — There are not enough days left in the year.”
The next holiday you’ll likely have off from work is Labor Day on September 1.
The Hill’s Sarah Fortinsky contributed to this report.
