Trump on Victory Day for WWII: without us they’re speaking German, a little Japanese; welcomed UAE

President Trump recounted how on May 8 — the WWII Victory in Europe day (VE Day) — he called foreign leaders only to learn that Russia, France, and essentially every other major WWII ally was celebrating the war’s victory while the United States was not. Trump noted America “won the war” and that without American intervention, Europeans would be speaking German “and maybe a little Japanese too.” Trump announced he had his “crack staff” ensure America celebrates Victory Day on May 8 and also on the November date for World War I victory — because America won both wars. The video also featured Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressing American service members at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, seeing “the eyes of American strength” and “American deterrence.” Trump then departed Qatar and was welcomed to the United Arab Emirates by President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, continuing his historic Middle East trip. Trump: “I’ll tell you just a little story a week ago, May 8th, I’d call up a certain country and they said, oh, we’re celebrating the victory of World War II today, sir … And the fact is, Russia was celebrating, France was celebrating, everybody was celebrating but us. And we’re the ones that won the war. We won the war. And they helped. But without us, they don’t win the war. We’re all speaking German. You know that, right? Without us, they’re speaking German, maybe a little Japanese too. We won the war. And we’re the only ones that didn’t celebrate.”

The Victory Day Story

“And I’ll tell you just a little story a week ago, May 8th, I’d call up a certain country and they said, oh, we’re celebrating the victory of World War II today, sir.”

Trump recounting the discovery. May 8 — Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) — marks the formal German surrender in 1945. Multiple countries celebrate:

Russia (May 9 due to time zones) — Victory Day
France — Fête de la Victoire
UK — VE Day
Various European nations
Pacific nations (for later VJ Day in August)

“Oh, really? I’d speak to one of the presidents or prime ministers or whatever. And they were so busy.”

Trump realizing the pattern — foreign leaders busy with celebrations he didn’t know about.

“Oh, yes, we’re celebrating the victory of World War II.”

Multiple confirmations. Trump discovered that his diplomatic calls interrupted victory celebrations.

“Then I speak to another one that they were celebrating.”

Another confirmation. The pattern becomes clear.

Everyone Except America

“And the fact is, Russia was celebrating, France was celebrating, everybody was celebrating but us. And we’re the ones that won the war.”

The observation:

Russia celebrates (USSR’s massive sacrifice)
France celebrates (liberation 1944)
UK celebrates (long resistance)
Various European nations
But not U.S.

“We won the war. And they helped.”

Trump’s framework — other allies helped, but American power won the war:

D-Day invasion American-led
Pacific War American-led
Industrial production American
Nuclear weapons American
Final defeats American-led

Language Framework

“But without us, they don’t win the war. We’re all speaking German. You know that, right? Without us, they’re speaking German, maybe a little Japanese too.”

Trump’s framework:

German would dominate Europe without U.S.
Japanese would dominate Pacific without U.S.
Continental victories required American power
Alternative outcome: Axis dominance
Americans don’t understand what they prevented

The counterfactual:

Britain alone couldn’t have sustained war
Soviet Union alone couldn’t have defeated Germany without Lend-Lease
Pacific War impossible without U.S. industrial capacity
Nuclear weapons American-made
War ended by American action

American Victory Day

“We won the war. And we’re the only ones that didn’t celebrate. So what I did is I got my crack staff over there. And we did it every time.”

Trump’s response — establish American Victory Day celebration.

“We have May 8th and we also have the date in November, that sacred date in November for World War I, because we won that war too.”

Two American Victory Days:

May 8 — WWII VE Day
November 11 — WWI Armistice Day (Veterans Day)

The November reference also connects to Veterans Day (existing federal holiday). Trump’s framework — WWI victory also American-won.

Al Udeid Air Base

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed troops at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

“What an absolute honor it is to be here amongst America’s best alongside our allies.”

Al Udeid Air Base:

Major U.S. military installation in Qatar
CENTCOM Forward Headquarters
13,000+ U.S. personnel
Coalition operations center
Strategic Middle East positioning

“I look out into this audience and I truly see the eyes of American strength, the eyes of American deterrence, the eyes of Americans who put America first.”

Hegseth’s framework:

American strength — visible in service members
American deterrence — their presence deters adversaries
America first — service members’ priority

“So on behalf of a grateful nation, I want to thank you for your willingness to take the prime of your life, to raise your right hand, to defend our constitution and our great nation.”

Hegseth’s gratitude:

Service members’ personal sacrifice
Prime of life given
Oath taken to defend Constitution
National service valued

“We salute you, we thank you and your families, these six or seven thousand miles away.”

Distance framework — 6,000-7,000 miles from home. Military families supporting deployed service members back home.

UAE Welcome

“POTUS Trump is welcomed to the United Arab Emirates by President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.”

The UAE visit — third stop on Middle East tour after Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ):

UAE President since 2022 (following father’s death)
Previously Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
Long-time Trump relationship
Key Abraham Accords architect
Modernizing UAE leader

The UAE relationship:

Abraham Accords partner (peace with Israel)
Major U.S. investment commitment
Regional security coordination
Energy partnership
Technology and AI cooperation

Qatar Departure

“POTUS Trump departs Qatar after a very successful visit. Now, he’s off to the United Arab Emirates as he continues his historic Middle East trip.”

The trip sequence:

Saudi Arabia: $600B commitment
Qatar: $1.2T commitment
UAE: additional commitments

The combined Middle East trip producing historic bilateral and economic outcomes.

Military Middle East Presence

Hegseth’s Al Udeid visit reflects comprehensive U.S. Middle East engagement:

Military bases maintained (Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia)
Naval presence (5th Fleet Bahrain)
Air operations (multiple bases)
Counter-terrorism (Iraq, Syria operations)
Iran deterrence
Gulf security

The service members’ “eyes of American deterrence” framework captures the strategic function. Their presence prevents adversary action, making conflict unnecessary.

WWII Historical Context

Trump’s WWII framework historically accurate:

American contributions to WWII victory:

Industrial production (arsenal of democracy)
Manpower (16 million U.S. service members)
Lend-Lease to Allies ($50 billion+ in 1940s dollars)
D-Day invasion (Eisenhower commanded)
Pacific War victory
Atomic bomb development
Post-war reconstruction (Marshall Plan)

Without U.S. intervention:

Germany likely defeats USSR
Britain faces isolated survival
Japan controls Pacific
Axis dominance possible

Trump’s “speaking German” framework captures this counterfactual.

Significance

Trump’s victory day celebration push reflects:

American exceptionalism framework
National pride restoration
Historical accuracy (U.S. central role)
European celebration reciprocity
Trump’s personal interest in American history

The November WWI date (Veterans Day) already celebrated. Trump proposing May 8 as additional American military victory celebration.

The Al Udeid visit and UAE welcome captured the Middle East trip’s scope. Trump engaging:

Service members (military presence)
Arab leaders (Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia)
Business leaders (investment forums)
Historical commemorations (WWII victory)

Key Takeaways

Trump on Victory Day discovery: “I’ll tell you just a little story a week ago, May 8th, I’d call up a certain country and they said, oh, we’re celebrating the victory of World War II today, sir.”
Trump on only America not celebrating: “And the fact is, Russia was celebrating, France was celebrating, everybody was celebrating but us. And we’re the ones that won the war.”
Trump on American role: “We won the war. And they helped. But without us, they don’t win the war. We’re all speaking German. You know that, right? Without us, they’re speaking German, maybe a little Japanese too.”
Trump on American Victory Day: “So what I did is I got my crack staff over there. And we did it every time. We have May 8th and we also have the date in November, that sacred date in November for World War I, because we won that war too.”
Hegseth at Al Udeid Qatar: “I truly see the eyes of American strength, the eyes of American deterrence, the eyes of Americans who put America first … on behalf of a grateful nation, I want to thank you for your willingness to take the prime of your life, to raise your right hand, to defend our constitution and our great nation.”