Donald Trump has suggested renaming the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean as "Trump Ocean," while revealing the one major landmark he would leave untouched.
The US President made the comments during a midterm campaign rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Saturday, where he suggested either ocean could also be called "Ocean of the Americans." Trump did not announce any formal plans to push ahead with the idea, but told supporters he wanted the country to have an ocean and a major river named after it.
Hudson River spared
Addressing the crowd, the president revealed he would not be renaming the Hudson River, praising the explorer Henry Hudson, who the river is named after - despite his suggestion that other major bodies of water could be given new names.
"We've got the Gulf, we've got a beautiful lake, and now someone said 'you need a river'," Trump said during his speech on Saturday.
"I don't want to change the name of the Hudson River. Henry Hudson, he did a good job sailing up that sucker a long time ago. We need a river. We need an ocean," he said. "We'll call it 'Trump Ocean' or 'Ocean of the Americans, something like that. Before I get out, I think we should have an ocean. And we need a great river."
Previous renaming efforts
His comments follow previous efforts to change the names of prominent geographical features, including the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario.
In January 2025, Trump signed an executive order to call Lake Ontario "Lake America." However, the lake is shared by the United States and Canada, and the move does not require Canada to adopt the alternative name. Trump's attempts to put his stamp on prominent landmarks have extended beyond bodies of water.
Legal setback and other proposals
Washington DC's Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center following action by its board, a move that faced legal challenge.
A federal judge ruled in May 2026 that the move was unlawful and ordered Trump's name to be removed in June.
Other ideas floated by the president include renaming the state of New Mexico as New America and calling the Strait of Hormuz the Trump Strait. These proposals have not been implemented.
