Donald Trump rejects call to rename bases named after Confederate generals
US President Donald Trump has revealed he will "not even consider" renaming military bases named for Confederate generals despite protests up and down the country.
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The President explained in a tweet that the bases were part of “a Great American heritage.”
This comes after top military officials were open to changes after a nationwide soul-searching effort following the death of George Floyd.
Many interpret the origins of the Confederate names as a reminder of a racist past.
The symbols of the Confederacy referred to the Government of 11 Southern slaveholding states that seceded from the union in 1860-61 in the American Civil War.
Trump tweeted a glowing endorsement of Confederate generals stating they “have become part of a great history of Winning, Victory and Freedom.”
“The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations.
Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with.
Respect our Military!”
Kayleigh McEnany, press secretary for the White House, revealed in a news briefing that Trump considered the idea “an absolute non-starter.”
McEnany also explained the President would not sign any legislation that Congress could potentially pass.
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Trump’s tweets were promoted after a Pentagon official said Defence Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy were “open to a bipartisan discussion on the topic” of renaming the bases.
This comes after, US Marine Corps called for an order for commanders to “identify and remove display of the Confederate battle flag or its depiction within workplaces, common-access areas and public areas on their installations.”
On Tuesday, retired four-star US Army general David Petraeus wrote the idea was long overdue.
Petraeus said: “The irony of training at bases named for those who took up arms against the United States, and for the right to enslave others, is inescapable to anyone paying attention.”
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There are currently 10 bases named for Confederate generals such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Hood in Texas and Fort Benning in Georgia.
Some Americans still view these generals as heroes to a lost cause.
The majority of the bases are situated in the South of America, occupying some of the states that helped Trump’s victory in 2016.
Trump’s decision to “not even consider” renaming the bases comes after a roundtable session with black supporters.
At a time when Americans are reevaluating race relations, Trump has received wide criticism for his move to reject the notion.