US President Donald Trump has claimed that Google CEO Sundar Pichai rejected his proposal to rename the Atlantic Ocean after himself or the United States, saying oceans are different from other geographical features because they span multiple countries.
Speaking at a rally in South Carolina on Wednesday, October 21, Trump recounted his conversation with Pichai, in which he asked whether Google could handle renaming the Atlantic Ocean. According to Trump, the Google CEO declined the request, explaining that oceans cover several countries and are different from other water bodies that have been renamed under the current administration. Trump recalled Pichai telling him, "No, no, no, this time I'm not doing it," before explaining that oceans were different because they covered a large number of countries.
The US President said he had considered naming the Atlantic Ocean after himself or America, but appeared to back away from the proposal after recounting Pichai's response. "I think let's keep it the Atlantic Ocean, right?" he told the audience.
Trump considers renaming Atlantic and Pacific oceans
Trump had earlier floated the idea of renaming either the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, suggesting names such as "Trump Ocean" or "Ocean of the Americas". He argued that the United States should have an ocean named after it before he leaves office.
At the South Carolina rally, Trump said he was not considering renaming any other oceans beyond the Atlantic and Pacific. He also raised the possibility of calling the Pacific Ocean the "American Ocean", questioning how European countries would respond to such a name.
There has been no official announcement of a formal renaming process for either ocean. The Atlantic and Pacific are international bodies of water bordered by numerous countries, and any unilateral US naming decision would not automatically be recognised internationally.
Trump's earlier geographical renaming moves
The latest remarks follow Trump's previous efforts to change the names of prominent geographical features. In 2025, his administration moved to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America for US government use, a decision that prompted diplomatic tensions with Mexico and a dispute over terminology in international media coverage.
Trump has also referred to the renaming of Lake Ontario as Lake America in the United States, amid tensions with Canada over trade and tariffs. Google's approach to geographical names generally follows official government naming sources, meaning that names displayed on Google Maps can differ by country.
The President had previously joked about renaming an ocean during a rally earlier this month, suggesting that the United States needed an ocean named after it.
No immediate response from Google or Sundar Pichai
Trump's account of his conversation with Pichai has not been independently confirmed by Google or the CEO. There was no immediate public response from either regarding the reported exchange.
Pichai, who was praised by Trump during the rally, has previously been involved in discussions with the US administration over technology, artificial intelligence and other industry issues.
The latest remarks have brought renewed attention to Trump's interest in renaming geographical landmarks and the challenges of changing the established names of international bodies of water.
