The essentials
Trump said Google declined his request to rename the Atlantic Ocean on Maps, and he would probably drop the idea.
Trump said at a South Carolina rally that he was considering renaming the Atlantic Ocean, and said he had contacted Google CEO Sundar Pichai about changing the name on Google Maps. Trump said Pichai declined the request because oceans span many countries. Trump also said he would probably drop the proposal. Google has not publicly confirmed the call.
The Atlantic proposal is one of several geographic renaming efforts. Trump signed an executive order directing that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America for federal use, and a separate order directing that Lake Ontario be renamed Lake America. Google Maps shows 'Gulf of America' for U.S. users, while Mexican users see the original name. Google states that its map names reflect name changes in official government sources.
Other ideas have also been raised. Trump has floated renaming the Strait of Hormuz the 'Trump Strait' and has mused about renaming New Mexico 'New America'. In early October, he said he wanted to rename a river and an ocean. A Replogle Globes CEO said some nations may not accept renamed geographic features.
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Renaming Proposals Span Oceans, Lakes, Gulfs, and States
Viewed as a pattern, the proposals cover an ocean, a gulf, a lake, a strait, a state, and a river. Executive orders have formalized two name changes for federal use, while other ideas remain proposals voiced at rallies and in remarks. The Replogle CEO's caution suggests that international acceptance of renamed features may be a separate question from domestic policy.
Google Sits at Center of Map Name Disputes
Google's role is central to how the renaming question plays out for digital users. Trump said Pichai declined the Atlantic request, citing the number of countries oceans span, though Google has not publicly confirmed the call. Google says its map names follow official government sources, which results in different labels for users in the United States and Mexico.