Trump says he ‘will not even consider’ renaming Army bases that have Confederate names
President Donald Trump said Wednesday his administration “will not even consider” renaming Army bases that are currently named after Confederate leaders.
His comments Wednesday came after an Army spokesperson told McClatchy News the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Army were “open to a bi-partisan discussion on the topic.”
Trump shut down any inclination they could be renamed while he is in office.
“These monumental and very powerful bases have become part of a great American heritage, and a history of winning, victory and freedom,” Trump said in a series of tweets. “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 institutions,” he continued. “Our history as the greatest nation in the world will not be tampered with. Respect our military!”
Here are the bases named after Confederate generals, according to the Congressional Research Service.
- Fort Rucker, named for Gen. Edmund Rucker, in Alabama
- Fort Benning, named for Brig. Gen. Henry L. Benning, in Georgia
- Fort Gordon, named for Maj. Gen. John Brown Gordon, in Georgia
- Camp Beauregard, named for Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, in Louisiana
- Fort Polk, named for Gen. Leonidas Polk, in Louisiana
- Fort Bragg, named for Gen. Braxton Bragg, in North Carolina
- Fort Hood, named for Gen. John Bell Hood, in Texas
- Fort A.P. Hill, named for Gen. A.P. Hill, in Virginia
- Fort Lee, named for Gen. Robert E. Lee, in Virginia
- Fort Pickett, named for Gen. George Pickett, in Virginia
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany reiterated Trump’s statement during a briefing Wednesday, stating Trump “will not be signing legislation that renames America’s forts,” according to CBS News.
Retired Army Gen. and former CIA director David Petraeus wrote an essay published by The Atlantic on Tuesday calling for confederates names to be taken off the bases.
“We do not live in a country to which Braxton Bragg, Henry L. Benning, or Robert E. Lee can serve as an inspiration. Acknowledging this fact is imperative,” he wrote. “Should it fail to do so, the Army, which prides itself on leading the way in perilous times, will be left to fight a rearguard action against a more inclusive American future, one that fulfills the nation’s founding promise.”
Confederate statues — several of which have recently come down — and these Army bases have come into focus due to recent protests following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a now-fired Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for more than 8 minutes.
Derek Chauvin, that officer, was fired and charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He remains jailed with bail set at $1.25 million.
Two other black people, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, were also killed this spring in events that have have sparked protests along with Floyd’s death.
The Army refused to change the names of the bases in 2015 when Dylann Roof murdered nine black people at a South Carolina church, according to NPR.
“These historic names represent individuals, not causes or ideologies. It should be noted that the naming occurred in the spirit of reconciliation, not division,” said Brigadier General Malcolm Frost, the Army’s spokesman said in 2015.
The Navy and Marines have each moved to prohibit the display of the Confederate flag, according to CNN.
“I am mindful that many people believe that flag to be a symbol of heritage or regional pride. But I am also mindful of the feelings of pain and rejection of those who inherited the cultural memory and present effects of the scourge of slavery in our country,” Marine Corps Gen. David Berger stated, according to CNN.
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 2:33 PM with the headline "Trump says he ‘will not even consider’ renaming Army bases that have Confederate names."