Presidential Message on the 81st Anniversary of the End of World War II

In a statement issued on August 14, 2026, the White House commemorated the 81st anniversary of Imperial Japan’s unconditional surrender and the end of the Second World War. The message honors the sacrifice of more than 16 million Americans who served, noting that over 400,000 gave their lives to preserve the nation's freedom. The President highlighted key battles, including Midway, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, praising the Armed Forces for their resolve against the forces of tyranny. The statement emphasizes that eighty-one years later, the peace secured by those warriors endures, and Japan now stands as one of the United States' closest allies in defending a free and open Indo-Pacific. The White House concluded by saluting the 'Greatest Generation,' pledging that their valor will live on in the American story and that the Republic they saved will remain a force for good in the world.