President Donald Trump delivered a speech during the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary celebration at Fort Bragg on June 10, 2025.
(The Post News)– On Tuesday, June 10, the United States Army celebrated its 250th anniversary at Fort Bragg. During the event, President Donald Trump outlined his plans to ‘liberate Los Angeles’ and reinstate old military base names.
The event, held at the nation’s most populous base, was intended as a ceremonial tribute honoring generations of American soldiers. However, pointed political messages delivered by President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth quickly became the focus of widespread attention and debate.
One of the first points President Trump addressed was the Biden administration’s decision to rename Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty. Originally named after General Braxton Bragg, a Confederate Army leader during the Civil War, the base was renamed in 2023 under a Congressional mandate following the 2020 racial justice protests.
Trump, during his address, pledged to go further by reinstating the original names of several other military bases. These include Fort Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Rucker, Fort Polk, Fort A.P. Hill, and Fort Robert E. Lee — citing their historical military as justification.
President Trump also used the platform to defend his recent deployment of military forces to Los Angeles—a decision that is being strongly opposed and criticised by civilians, the public and Democrats. He declared that generations of Army heroes did not die on foreign lands only to witness invasion and lawlessness in the Third World destroy the United States.
He justified the deployment of 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops by stating that it is an effort to “liberate Los Angeles”, which has turned into a “trash heap” as “entire neighbourhoods” are under criminal control.
Moreover, despite the political overtones, the Fort Bragg ceremony still featured traditional displays of military pride. The anniversary was marked by a full-scale live demonstration showcasing Army capabilities, including “drone flights, helicopter maneuvers, booming Howitzer fire, and a flyover by two F-15 fighter jets”. It was overall a spirited and patriotic event, as thousands of service members and their families brought their flags and gathered to honour the Army’s long legacy.
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