Kathrine Frich
Trump used the moment to advocate for a dedicated U.S. holiday to commemorate the victory.
Trump used the moment to advocate for a dedicated U.S. holiday to commemorate the victory.
Trump Takes a Swipe at Europe
During a speech at the al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Thursday, President Donald Trump delivered a characteristically provocative statement about America’s role in World War II, mocking European countries for their annual May 8 celebrations.
“Without us, they would speak German, maybe a little Japanese,” Trump said to a crowd of laughing soldiers.
“We Did a Little More to Win the War”
Trump specifically singled out France, suggesting the country celebrates victory more robustly than the U.S., despite America’s decisive role.
“We love France, don’t we? But I think we did a little more to win the war than France,” he said, before joking about Hitler’s occupation of Paris, according to Hotnews.
He imitated French President Emmanuel Macron with a mock accent, further stoking the sense of irony:
“Donald, we’re celebrating our victory over the Germans.”
To which Trump quipped, “That’s wonderful,” before adding, “We won the war. They helped.”
A Push for a U.S. Public Holiday
Trump used the moment to once again advocate for a dedicated U.S. holiday to commemorate the Allied victory over Nazi Germany.
“We are the only ones who don’t celebrate it properly,” he insisted.
“We won the war and we should mark it officially.”
His remarks echo earlier calls in May to institutionalize an American Victory in Europe Day.
Downplaying Allies, Including the USSR
In his usual bombastic style, Trump downplayed not just France’s role, but that of the wider Allied forces, including the Soviet Union.
He dismissed the crucial Eastern Front victories that began in 1943, focusing instead on the U.S.-led efforts that culminated in the D-Day landings and the Western Front push.
Critics say this oversimplifies the massive losses endured by the USSR and discounts the broader Allied effort.
The Historical Facts: Who Did What?
Trump’s framing drew attention because it glosses over the war’s full scope.
- The U.S. joined the war after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
- Its most iconic European intervention came on June 6, 1944, with the Normandy landings.
- According to the U.S. National WWII Museum, America lost over 416,000 troops, while the Soviet Union’s military casualties exceeded 8.8 million.
NATO Allies Rattled by Trump’s “Victory” Rhetoric
While Trump’s remarks may resonate with parts of his domestic base, they risk alienating key U.S. allies.
France, the UK, and other NATO members may view this kind of rhetorical undercutting as dismissive of their wartime contributions, and symbolic of Trump’s ongoing challenges to multilateral partnerships.