“Secretary of War” - A Contradiction to the “Pursuit of Peace”

On Friday afternoon, as the American public readied themselves for the weekend, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted an update on “X” at 4:01 p.m. Central Time. The post was a simple eleven-second video of two men changing the sign on his door from “Pete Hegseth - Secretary of Defense” to “Pete Hegseth - Secretary of War.” The change, according to the BBC, has been “long expected” but “comes on the heels of China unveiling a range of new weapons, drones, and other military hardware in a massive parade that many interpreted as a clear message to the US and its allies.”

While the change of title seems to match the intensity of China’s latest show of strength, it does not appear to be an attempt at cooling the temperature between the United States and China and its allies. The gesture more closely resembles Donald Trump’s decision to fly a B-2 stealth bomber and F-22 fighter jets over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s head in Alaska as they shook hands on the tarmac of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage on August 15th last month. The decision was widely regarded as a show of military might by US President Trump, which was then followed by China’s military parade on September 3rd.

While showcasing military might has been used throughout history as a means of avoiding war, these military demonstrations also introduce the potential for conflict. Alternatively, finding common interests does a greater service to pursuing peace—as showcased during the Cold War. When the United States and Soviet Union were struggling diplomatically, polar bear conservation was one of the few areas in which both countries found agreement. The 1973 “Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears” is widely recognized as an early indication of cooperation during the Cold War. The decision by both parties to sit down at the table and sign the “Polar Bear Declaration” did more than protect polar bears; it introduced a path forward for both countries to pursue peace together.

The reality is simple: if one desires “peace through strength,” showcasing strength must be treated as the “means” of reaching the “ends” of peace. The decision to change the name of Pete Hegseth’s title to “Secretary of War” contradicts the message of “pursuing peace” because it adds “war” to the United States’ diplomatic rhetoric. When Pete Hegseth held the title of “Secretary of Defense,” “defense” was inferred to be the “means” to the ends of peace. Now, the use of “war” infers nothing in particular, except the likely potential of war—the opposite of peace. If Donald Trump is serious about pursuing peace, he should attempt to do so without contradicting himself.