President Donald Trump again suggested renaming the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, raising “Trump Ocean” and “Ocean of the Americas” as possibilities during an October 10 rally in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The remarks drew laughter and applause from supporters. Although Trump said he would like an ocean and a major river renamed before leaving office, the comments did not establish a formal policy for renaming oceans.

Speaking about his administration’s previous geographical name changes, Trump suggested that an ocean could be the next addition. He also discussed rivers, but ruled out changing the Hudson and Mississippi. His comments about the Hudson included a lighthearted reference to the explorer it is named after.

The speech renewed an idea he raised in August, when he suggested that either—or possibly both—oceans could receive new names.

Earlier Changes Provide the Backdrop

Trump’s administration has already changed several federal government names. In January 2025, it adopted “Gulf of America” for the Gulf of Mexico. It restored Mount McKinley as the federal name of Alaska’s highest mountain, reversing the Obama administration’s recognition of the name Denali.

Lake Ontario followed in August 2026, when Trump signed an order adopting “Lake America” for federal use. Canadian officials rejected the change. The order did not determine what Canada or international organizations must call the shared lake.

A Suggestion, Rather Than an Announced Change

The distinction between a rally remark and an official decision remains central to the latest proposal. Reporting on the Tennessee appearance described Trump’s suggested ocean names as playful, and no formal ocean-renaming measure was announced in those remarks.

For now, the speech signals Trump’s continuing interest in geographical renaming. It does not mean that either the Atlantic or the Pacific has become “Trump Ocean.”