Trump's Renaming Spree: From the Gulf of America to 'Trump Ocean'
Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has turned renaming into a signature of his second term — targeting oceans, lakes, states, airports, and even the Pentagon itself. The pattern is consistent: new names, often featuring "America" or his own name, issued by executive order or social media post.
Here is the record of what he has renamed — and what he has proposed renaming.
The Gulf of Mexico → Gulf of America
On his first day back in the White House in January 2025, Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America". The US Board on Geographic Names complied, and Google and Apple Maps updated the label for US users.
Trump justified the change by claiming the US accounts for 93% of the Gulf coastline. Available data does not support that: Mexico represents 47.67% of the Gulf's maritime area and the US 44.75%. Mexico rejected the change, and the body of water remains internationally recognized as the Gulf of Mexico.
Lake Ontario → Lake America
In August 2026, amid a trade war with Canada, Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as "Lake America". He said the change was "effective immediately".
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back, noting the name comes from a Wendat word meaning "the lake is beautiful, the lake is big" and predates both Canada and the US. "This lake is called Lake Ontario — today and forever," he wrote. Canada does not recognize the change.
New Mexico → "New America"
In September 2026, Trump posted on Truth Social suggesting New Mexico be renamed "New America," calling it "so much more prestigious and beautiful". The White House reposted an image with "Mexico" crossed out and replaced with "America".
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham rejected the idea: "The name isn't up for debate — it's been ours since before the United States existed". Legal experts note the federal government has no authority to rename a state.
Atlantic or Pacific → "Trump Ocean"
At a rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, on October 10, 2026, Trump suggested renaming one of the world's two largest oceans. "So we've got the Gulf. We've got a beautiful lake. Now somebody you need a river," he said. "So we need a river and we need an ocean, so I was thinking of either the Atlantic or the Pacific. We'll call it Trump Ocean or Ocean of the Americas".
He ruled out renaming the Mississippi River because "I like the name".
The Strait of Hormuz → "Trump Strait"
During the war with Iran, Trump suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz as "Trump Strait," then hours later implied he was not serious about the plan.
Institutions Renamed or Proposed
- Department of Defense → Department of War: An executive order in September 2025 gave the department the secondary name "Department of War". Cost estimate: $52.5 million.
- Kennedy Center → Trump-Kennedy Center: The board voted in December 2025 to add Trump's name. A judge ruled the change illegal in May, but it was later restored after further legal action.
- US Institute of Peace → Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace: Renamed in December 2025.
- Palm Beach International Airport → President Donald J. Trump International Airport: Renamed in July 2026. Cost: $5.5 million.
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory → National Laboratory of the Rockies: Renamed in December 2025.
The Cost
According to Spanish newspaper El Economista, Trump's renaming efforts have cost US taxpayers over $58 million so far. The largest single expense is the Department of Defense name change at roughly $52.5 million. The Gulf of Mexico renaming is estimated at $500,000. The Lake Ontario change is expected to cost a similar amount.
The pattern, critics say, is less about heritage and more about branding — and the bill is being paid by the public.