President Donald Trump Friday referred to defense secretary Pete Hegseth as the secretary of war, leading to confusion as to whether it was slip or whether Trump wants to bring back the position that the country didn’t have since 1947. “Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was great on FoxNews this morning. Talking about modern weapons and warfare. Thank you also to Brett Velicovich, who really knows his “stuff.” We are really on our way. MAGA!” Trump posted on Truth Social.The position of Secretary of War was a high‑level cabinet role in the U.S. government from 1789 until its dissolution in 1947. Initially, while serving under the Articles of Confederation (1781–1789), it was known as “Secretary at War.” Benjamin Lincoln and Henry Knox held the rank during this early period. Under the new Constitution, George Washington appointed Henry Knox as the first official Secretary of War, entrusting him with all military affairs—including naval matters—until the Department of the Navy was created in 1798.The office was eventually discontinued by the National Security Act of 1947, which split its duties into the newly formed Secretary of the Army and Secretary of the Air Force, both reporting to the Secretary of Defense, who now occupies the cabinet-level role. The final Secretary of War, Kenneth C. Royall, briefly served in that role in 1947 before transitioning to become the first Secretary of the Army
