Story perspectives

Trump Floats Renaming Oceans and Lake Ontario

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 12:53 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested renaming the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean at a Tennessee rally on Oct. 10.
He floated the names “Trump Ocean” and “Ocean of the Americas” for the proposed change.
Trump also hinted at renaming Lake Ontario after an August order that named it Lake America.
The August order directed the Interior Department and the Board on Geographic Names to rename the lake.

History

Historical Context

After President Benjamin Harrison created the Board on Geographic Names in 1890, the agency gained authority to standardize U.S. place names. In 1918, the board, acting under President Woodrow Wilson, renamed over 200 German-derived towns, streets and lakes—including Berlin, Michigan, which became Marne. Donald Trump’s 2026 proposal to rename major bodies of water echoes that earlier politicized renaming drive.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested renaming the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean at a Tennessee rally on Oct. 10.
He floated the names “Trump Ocean” and “Ocean of the Americas” for the proposed change.
Trump also hinted at renaming Lake Ontario after an August order that named it Lake America.
The August order directed the Interior Department and the Board on Geographic Names to rename the lake.

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