Donald Trump’s recent promise to revert the name of Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg has ignited a heated discussion online. This announcement came during a town hall event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where Trump, running as the Republican nominee, expressed his intention to change the name if he defeats Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
The military base, originally named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg, was renamed Fort Liberty last year as part of a Department of Defense initiative aimed at removing references to Confederate figures from military installations. Trump’s opposition to this change dates back to his presidency, where he vetoed legislation to keep the names intact, but Congress ultimately passed it despite his objections. The push to eliminate Confederate symbols increased significantly during the racial justice protests spurred by George Floyd’s death in 2020.
At the town hall, Trump recalled asking, “Should we change the name from Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg?” which was met with enthusiastic applause. He confidently reassured the crowd, “I’m doing it, I’m doing it, I’m doing it.”
Trump asserted that this pledge could be the “secret to winning” North Carolina, especially after an active duty soldier at Fort Liberty received boos from the audience when he mentioned the new name.
Social media reactions included sharp criticisms, notably from former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who stated, “The Confederacy lost… everything honoring the confederacy should be removed.” Journalist Aaron Rupar deemed Trump’s remarks “beyond parody,” while others pointed out that many North Carolinians are focused on recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, not military base names. Commenting on this, Ron Filipkowski from MeidasTouch highlighted the irony of prioritizing a Confederate general in light of recent natural disasters impacting the region.
Myron Pitts, opinion editor of the Fayetteville Observer, emphasized that Bragg and other bases had their names changed through federal law, expressing skepticism about Trump’s ability to reverse such legislation.
In response to criticism, Trump’s spokesperson labeled detractors as “anti-America simps.” Meanwhile, some supporters reacted positively, praising Trump’s stance. Comedian Tim Young remarked, “Trump is on fire,” while another supporter expressed a personal connection to the base, seeing Trump’s pledge as a significant decision.