Veterans Day, 2025

Published: Mon 10th Nov 25

This Presidential Proclamation, issued by Donald J. Trump on November 10, 2025, formally designates November 11, 2025, as Veterans Day, using the occasion to express deep gratitude for the service and sacrifice of American veterans across all conflicts and to recommit the Federal Government to supporting them, referencing specific recent administrative actions taken to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs, address homelessness, and improve benefits processing.

Arguments For

  • Honoring Sacrifice and Legacy: The action reaffirms a national commitment to honor the courage and sacrifice of veterans who secured freedom for the United States throughout its history.

  • Commitment to Improvement: It highlights recent successes under the current administration, citing historic reforms at the VA, expansion of healthcare choice, reduction of benefit backlogs, and initiatives addressing veteran homelessness, framing the proclamation as part of an ongoing positive trajectory.

  • Fulfilling a National Promise: The proclamation asserts that the government is finally fulfilling the fundamental promise owed to those who served, rectifying historical failures in providing earned benefits concerning healthcare, housing, and employment.

  • Public Observance Encouragement: By officially declaring Veterans Day, it encourages citizens, government officials, and local entities to participate in ceremonies and patriotic acts, ensuring public recognition of veterans' contributions.

Arguments Against

  • Political Framing of Achievements: Opponents might argue that the enumeration of recent administrative achievements (e.g., ending DEI/transgender policies, specific backlog reductions) injects partisan elements into a tradition meant to be universally unifying, potentially overshadowing the core theme of gratitude.

  • Questionable Policy Claims: Critics could challenge the factual basis or scope of claims regarding veteran healthcare improvements and tax policy permanence mentioned (like the One Big Beautiful Bill and Trump Tax Cut permanence), arguing these are political assertions rather than confirmed, universally beneficial outcomes.

  • Focus on Past Failures: While establishing gratitude, the document dwells on past systemic failures by previous politicians, which some might view as distracting from a purely commemorative focus required for a national holiday proclamation.

  • Specific Dates and Political Context: The action is dated for the end of the second term of a specific political era (November 10, 2025), which may lead to it being viewed through a highly partisan lens rather than solely as a timeless recognition of military service.

Presidential Actions

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

The story of America is written with the courage, honor, and dedicated service of our veterans. Through their sacrifice, the fires of freedom burn brightly, our Republic secured, and our way of life made possible.  For nearly 250 years, their unyielding spirit has carried our Nation through every trial and triumph, ensuring that liberty endures for all time.  This Veterans Day, we show our gratitude and recommit to honor their service, uphold their legacy, and give every veteran the loyalty, respect, and support they have earned and so dearly deserve.

From the moment our Nation’s Founders raised the cause of independence, they recognized that freedom rests upon those willing to defend it.  During the midst of the American Revolution, the Continental Congress enacted the first national veterans’ benefits law to care for wounded and disabled veterans.  From that early act of foresight came a fundamental promise:  a Nation devoted to liberty owes a debt to those who secured freedom for our people.  Yet for too many decades, politicians have failed to provide the benefits earned by the best among us, leading to shameful outcomes on veteran healthcare, housing, and employment.  Under my leadership, the Federal Government will no longer betray these heroes.

During my first term, my Administration achieved historic reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and expanded choice in healthcare and economic opportunity for our veterans.  I signed into law landmark legislation to increase accountability, remove those who failed our veterans, and deliver faster, high-quality care.  Now, we are building off these successes by continuing to improve the VA.  We have opened 16 new veteran health clinics throughout the country, made it easier for veterans to pass on their benefits to their survivors, and ended DEI and transgender policies so we can use taxpayer dollars on programs that help veterans in need.  Just this year, we have already reduced the backlog of veterans waiting for VA benefits by more than 37 percent, after rising 24 percent during the previous administration — and we are just getting started.

In May, I signed an Executive Order to build the National Center for Warrior Independence, which will house up to 6,000 homeless veterans by 2028.  I also signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill, making the 2017 Trump Tax Cut permanent and ending taxes on Social Security for most seniors, relieving some of the financial burden for veterans on fixed incomes.  Through these reforms and actions, we are renewing our Nation’s commitment to all those who served.  

Our Nation remains great because of those who have served honorably in uniform and committed their lives to defending our families, our freedom, and American values.  Today, we extend our deepest gratitude to our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Guardians for their sacrifice, and we thank the families who share the burden of their service.  Under my leadership, our Nation will always uphold the legacy of our veterans by keeping America strong, proud, and free — and as President, I will always have their backs.

In respectful recognition of the contributions our service members have made to advance peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation’s veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2025, as Veterans Day.  I encourage all Americans to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of our veterans through public ceremonies and private thoughts and prayers of gratitude.  I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities.  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.

                             DONALD J. TRUMP

The post Veterans Day, 2025 appeared first on The White House.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

The story of America is written with the courage, honor, and dedicated service of our veterans. Through their sacrifice, the fires of freedom burn brightly, our Republic secured, and our way of life made possible.  For nearly 250 years, their unyielding spirit has carried our Nation through every trial and triumph, ensuring that liberty endures for all time.  This Veterans Day, we show our gratitude and recommit to honor their service, uphold their legacy, and give every veteran the loyalty, respect, and support they have earned and so dearly deserve.

From the moment our Nation’s Founders raised the cause of independence, they recognized that freedom rests upon those willing to defend it.  During the midst of the American Revolution, the Continental Congress enacted the first national veterans’ benefits law to care for wounded and disabled veterans.  From that early act of foresight came a fundamental promise:  a Nation devoted to liberty owes a debt to those who secured freedom for our people.  Yet for too many decades, politicians have failed to provide the benefits earned by the best among us, leading to shameful outcomes on veteran healthcare, housing, and employment.  Under my leadership, the Federal Government will no longer betray these heroes.

During my first term, my Administration achieved historic reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and expanded choice in healthcare and economic opportunity for our veterans.  I signed into law landmark legislation to increase accountability, remove those who failed our veterans, and deliver faster, high-quality care.  Now, we are building off these successes by continuing to improve the VA.  We have opened 16 new veteran health clinics throughout the country, made it easier for veterans to pass on their benefits to their survivors, and ended DEI and transgender policies so we can use taxpayer dollars on programs that help veterans in need.  Just this year, we have already reduced the backlog of veterans waiting for VA benefits by more than 37 percent, after rising 24 percent during the previous administration — and we are just getting started.

In May, I signed an Executive Order to build the National Center for Warrior Independence, which will house up to 6,000 homeless veterans by 2028.  I also signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill, making the 2017 Trump Tax Cut permanent and ending taxes on Social Security for most seniors, relieving some of the financial burden for veterans on fixed incomes.  Through these reforms and actions, we are renewing our Nation’s commitment to all those who served.  

Our Nation remains great because of those who have served honorably in uniform and committed their lives to defending our families, our freedom, and American values.  Today, we extend our deepest gratitude to our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Guardians for their sacrifice, and we thank the families who share the burden of their service.  Under my leadership, our Nation will always uphold the legacy of our veterans by keeping America strong, proud, and free — and as President, I will always have their backs.

In respectful recognition of the contributions our service members have made to advance peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation’s veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2025, as Veterans Day.  I encourage all Americans to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of our veterans through public ceremonies and private thoughts and prayers of gratitude.  I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities.  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.

                             DONALD J. TRUMP

The post Veterans Day, 2025 appeared first on The White House.