President Donald Trump told supporters in South Carolina that he recently contacted Google CEO Sundar Pichai to discuss changing the name of the Atlantic Ocean on Google Maps. The proposal, which Trump described as a serious consideration, was ultimately rejected by the tech executive.
Google CEO Rejected The Proposal
During a campaign-style rally, Trump recounted the conversation with Pichai. He stated that he had called the Google chief to ask about the renaming. According to Trump, Pichai responded with a firm refusal.
“No, no, no. This time I’m not doing it. Oceans are different, sir. They cover a lot of countries. Please don’t ask us to do that,” Trump quoted Pichai as saying.
Trump, who has a history of suggesting name changes for geographical features, acknowledged the rejection. He told the crowd that he would likely pass on the idea for now. “I think let’s keep it the Atlantic Ocean,” he said, framing the decision as a concession to the practical realities of global geography.
Part Of A Broader Renaming Trend
The Atlantic Ocean request is part of a wider pattern of Trump’s interest in renaming bodies of water. He has previously pushed to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” amid ongoing trade tensions with Canada. Google Maps currently displays the body of water as “Lake Ontario (Lake America),” a format it also uses for the Gulf of Mexico.
Trump also recently took to social media to suggest renaming the Strait of Hormuz to “Trump Strait.” He wrote that the name change would make the location “hotter than ever before,” drawing parallels to his view of the United States itself.
These remarks have drawn attention from pop culture. The animated series South Park recently satirized the trend by renaming its 29th season “South America,” a direct reference to Trump’s previous attempts to rename Canadian lakes.
Trump’s comments in South Carolina highlighted his preference for keeping the names “Atlantic Ocean” and “Pacific Ocean” unchanged, while expressing interest in renaming other water bodies. He told the crowd that he only liked those two oceans and would not put “Trump” or “America” on any other ocean besides them.
The incident underscores the ongoing intersection of political rhetoric and digital mapping services. Google Maps, a tool used by millions globally, has become an unexpected battleground for Trump’s branding efforts. While the Atlantic Ocean remains unchanged, the Lake America designation continues to appear on the platform, reflecting the administration’s persistent push for geographical rebranding.
Source: Deadline
