Donald Trump proposes changing the name of the Atlantic or the Pacific: What does he want to call it?

Donald Trump surprised attendees during a political event in Clarksville, Tennessee, by suggesting that the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean could have another name. The president made the comment on Saturday, October 10, while reviewing the geographical changes promoted by his administration.

“We have the gulf, we have a beautiful lake, and now someone said we need a river”, he remarked to the audience. He then raised the possibility of adding an ocean to that list: “I was thinking about the Atlantic or the Pacific. We would call it ‘Trump Ocean’ or ‘Ocean of the Americas,’” he said. The proposal prompted laughter and applause from some of those in attendance.

“Trump Ocean” or “Ocean of the Americas”

The president joked about renaming the Atlantic or the Pacific, adding the proposal to the Gulf of America within his particular rhetorical style: He proposed “Trump Ocean,” which could be translated as «océano Trump», and “Ocean of the Americas”, that is, «océano de las Américas». He did not specify which of the two oceans he would choose, nor did he announce a formal measure to carry out the change.

The idea follows a similar line to other decisions by his administration. In January 2025, Trump ordered U.S. federal agencies to use the name “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico”. In August 2026, he also signed an order for Lake Ontario to be renamed “Lake America” in U.S. federal usage.

The president referred to that background to explain why he wanted to add an ocean and a river. However, he ruled out changing the name of the Hudson River and also assured that he would not change the Mississippi’s name. For now, he did not present a concrete proposal to rename either of the two oceans.

Can Trump officially change the name of an ocean?

The U.S. government can establish names for geographical features within its agencies and federal maps. However, a decision by Washington does not require other countries or international organizations to adopt the same name.

That was made clear by the previous changes: the name “Gulf of America” is used in certain official contexts in the United States, while other countries and media outlets retain “Gulf of Mexico.” In the case of Lake Ontario, the new U.S. designation also does not mean that Canada has to accept it.

For now, “Trump Ocean” and “Ocean of the Americas” are names mentioned during a speech, not official names for the Atlantic or the Pacific. The president did not announce an executive order or a formal procedure to change their names.