Trump Will 'Not Even Consider' Renaming Army Bases Referring To Confederate Generals

US President Donald Trump says his administration will “not even consider” changing the name of any of the 10 Army bases named after Confederate Army officers.

Hours after Mr Trump's comments, demonstrators forcibly removed a statue of Confederate former president Jefferson Davis in Richmond, Virginia. 

It comes as anti-racism protests continue across the US following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. 

Those calling for bases to be disassociated from Confederate Army officers argue they represent the racism and divisiveness of the Civil War era and glorify men who fought against the United States.

On Monday, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper suggested he was open to discussing the renaming of bases such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Benning in Georgia.

However, Mr Trump has now ruled out the changes, writing on Twitter that the bases are part of a "Great American Heritage" with a "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," he tweeted.

"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!"

The Confederate Army represented the Confederate States of America during the Civil War in the 1860s, after the election of Abraham Lincoln threatened the slave trade driving the economy in the south.

Mr Trump’s press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, added the president believes changing the base names would amount to “complete disrespect” for soldiers who have trained there over the years.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, considered Mr Trump's greatest rival in Congress, urged the House-Senate joint committee to vote for the removal of 11 Confederate monuments.

In a letter, she said the monuments "pay homage to hate, not heritage" and "must be removed".

It comes after the statues of two former slave traders in the UK were removed - one by protestors in Bristol. 

Cover image: Library image of US President Donald Trump (Picture: PA).