Trump says Google CEO rejected request to rename Atlantic Ocean

President claims Sundar Pichai said oceans are different because they cover many countries

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Donald Trump said Wednesday that Google CEO Sundar Pichai turned down his request to rename the Atlantic Ocean after himself or America, according to remarks at a South Carolina rally. The president recounted asking Pichai whether the company could handle the proposal, and said the CEO refused on the grounds that oceans span many nations.

Speaking at a rally on Wednesday, Donald Trump said he had called Google's chief executive to propose renaming the Atlantic Ocean either after himself or the United States. According to Trump, Pichai responded: "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 referenced his earlier executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, as well as his push to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America amid a trade feud with Canada. He said he had signed an executive order requiring US federal agencies to use the new moniker. Google Maps now displays "Gulf of America" and "Lake America" for US users, while users in Mexico and Canada continue to see the original names.

The president said he would probably drop the idea. "So I'll probably pass. Should I pass it?" he said, adding: "I think let's keep it the Atlantic Ocean."

The Guardian has approached Google for comment. Trump has previously floated renaming the Strait of Hormuz after himself during the US war with Iran, writing on Truth Social last month: "Should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT???"

Analysis

Why This Matters

Trump's request tests the boundaries of presidential influence over private mapping services and international naming conventions
Google's compliance with previous name changes (Gulf of America, Lake America) set a precedent that the company appears unwilling to extend to oceans
The episode highlights how digital maps have become a battleground for political symbolism, particularly in disputes with Canada and Mexico

Background

Trump has used executive orders to rename geographical features since returning to office. The Gulf of Mexico was officially redesignated as the Gulf of America for US federal purposes, and Google Maps adopted the change for American users while retaining original names elsewhere. The president also ordered Lake Ontario to be renamed Lake America as part of escalating trade tensions with Canada. His latest proposal targets the Atlantic Ocean, a body of water bordered by dozens of countries, making a unilateral name change diplomatically fraught.

Key Perspectives

Trump: Views renaming as a demonstration of national pride and personal influence, framing it as a continuation of his earlier executive actions. Google: Has so far followed US government directives for domestic users but appears to have drawn a line at oceans, citing their multinational nature. Critics and international observers: Previous name changes drew criticism from Mexico and Canada; renaming an ocean would likely provoke broader diplomatic backlash and questions about the politicisation of digital maps.

What to Watch

Whether Trump issues any formal executive order or continues to pressure Google publicly
How Google's policy for name changes in other countries (Canada, Mexico, European nations) evolves in response to political pressure
Potential reaction from international bodies such as the International Hydrographic Organization, which coordinates ocean naming

Sources

Trump says he asked Google CEO to rename Atlantic Ocean on Maps · World news | The Guardian

Checked

10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedTrump says Google CEO rejected his request to rename the Atlantic Ocean.World news | The Guardian: “Donald Trump said Google rejected his request to rename the Atlantic Ocean after himself or America.”
SupportedTrump said Sundar Pichai rejected the request because oceans cover many countries.World news | The Guardian: “According to Trump, Pichai rejected the latest proposal. Trump described the Google CEO’s response by saying, “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.””
SupportedTrump recounted Pichai saying, “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.”World news | The Guardian: “Trump described the Google CEO’s response by saying, “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.””
SupportedTrump said he called Google’s CEO about renaming the Atlantic Ocean after himself or America.World news | The Guardian: “Speaking at a rally in South Carolina on Wednesday, the president said he had called Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, to ask whether the company could “handle” his proposal.”
SupportedTrump said he would probably pass on the idea and suggested keeping the name Atlantic Ocean.World news | The Guardian: ““So I’ll probably pass. Should I pass it?” Trump said, adding: “I think let’s keep it the Atlantic Ocean.””
SupportedTrump referenced his earlier executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and his push to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America.World news | The Guardian: “Trump referenced his previous executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, as well as his push to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America amid a trade feud between the US and Canada”
Partly supportedTrump said he had signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to use the new moniker for Lake Ontario.World news | The Guardian: “for which he also signed an executive order requiring US federal agencies to use his new moniker.”
SupportedGoogle Maps labels the Gulf of America and Lake America for US users, while users in Mexico and Canada see the original names.World news | The Guardian: “On Google Maps, the locations themselves are labeled “Gulf of America” and “Lake America” for US users, while search results display the new names alongside the original names in parentheses. Users in Mexico and Canada, meanwhile, continue to see the original names.”
SupportedThe Guardian approached Google for comment.World news | The Guardian: “The Guardian has approached Google for comment.”
SupportedTrump previously floated renaming the Strait of Hormuz after himself and last month posted, “Should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT???”World news | The Guardian: “Trump has also previously floated renaming the strait of Hormuz after himself. Last month, amid the US’s ongoing war with Iran, he wrote on Truth Social: “Should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT??? Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before!””