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Jimmy Williams
Former President Donald Trump has vowed to restore the name of North Carolina’s Fort Bragg if he is reelected, less than two years after the military base was renamed to Fort Liberty as part of a national reckoning with Confederate symbols. Trump made the pledge during a town hall event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, home to many service members and veterans connected to the base.
“I think I just learned the secret to winning absolutely and by massive margins. I’m going to promise to you … that we’re going to change the name back to Fort Bragg,” Trump said, after being asked about missile defense by an active-duty soldier stationed at the base.
Fort Bragg, named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg, was one of nine U.S. military installations renamed as part of a congressionally mandated process in 2021. The effort followed nationwide social justice protests after the police killing of George Floyd, which led to a reevaluation of symbols linked to the Confederacy and systemic racism. Gen. Bragg, for whom the base was named, not only fought for the Confederacy but also had a reputation as a battlefield failure and enslaved people during his lifetime.
The decision to rename the base as Fort Liberty was part of a broader Department of Defense initiative to remove the names of Confederate figures from military installations. The renaming process included public comment periods and was overseen by a commission formed after Congress overrode Trump’s veto of a bipartisan military spending bill that recommended the changes.
Trump has long opposed the renaming of Confederate-linked military bases. While in office, he vetoed the military spending bill in part due to its recommendation to rename Fort Bragg and other bases. Congress later overrode the veto, and the base officially became Fort Liberty.
During his town hall appearance, Trump reinforced his opposition to the renaming efforts, aligning with other Republican candidates like former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who have also called for restoring the Fort Bragg name during the Republican primary.
The former president also promised broader changes in the military if he wins reelection, emphasizing his focus on ending what he described as “woke” policies within the armed forces.
“We have a great military, and we have a military that’s not woke,” Trump said, adding, “You may have a few people at the top who are woke, and we’re going to get rid of them so damn fast your head is gonna spin.”
The military’s decision to rename Fort Bragg was part of a broader effort to distance military institutions from Confederate symbols that have long been seen as glorifying figures who fought to preserve slavery. Many of the military bases in the South that were named after Confederate figures were given those names around the time of World War I in an effort to rally Southern support for the U.S. military.
Despite these efforts, Trump has framed the issue as part of his broader campaign against so-called “woke” culture, appealing to a portion of his base that views the renaming of military bases as an attempt to erase history. Trump’s position on the issue is part of a broader narrative in his campaign, promising a return to policies that reflect traditional conservative values, which include undoing some of the decisions made during President Joe Biden’s administration.
Fort Liberty, under its new name, continues to serve as one of the largest military installations in the United States, playing a crucial role in U.S. military operations.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Trump’s vow to restore the Fort Bragg name could resonate with voters in the military community who may feel strongly about the base’s legacy, but it could also reignite the national debate over how America should reckon with its Confederate past.
