Which U.S. president officially designated September 2, 1945, as V-J Day?

Harry S. Truman officially designated September 2, 1945, as V-J Day.

Truman made the designation in connection with the formal signing of Japan’s surrender. The ceremony took place that day aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, where Japanese representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender before Allied delegates.

The date is distinct from the earlier public announcements. Japan’s surrender was announced to the Japanese people on August 15, while the news reached the United States on August 14 because of the time difference. Truman identified September 2 with the formal legal act, although he noted that the complete end of hostilities involved further steps.

Different countries therefore use different dates or names for the commemoration. In the United States, September 2 became especially associated with the formal surrender ceremony, while August 14 or 15 was used for the initial announcement in many Allied countries.