Key facts
- Gulf of Mexico renamed "Gulf of America" in January 2025.
- Denali renamed Mount McKinley in January 2025.
- Lake Ontario renamed "Lake America" in August 2026.
- Nine Army bases had their names restored to those honoring Confederate leaders in early 2025.
- Trump has suggested renaming the Atlantic Ocean the "American Ocean."
During his second term, President Donald Trump has initiated several name changes for geographical features and federal sites. In January 2025, an executive order directed the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" and restored the federal name of Mount McKinley to Denali, Alaska's highest peak. This move followed President Obama's 2015 decision to revert to the mountain's Native Alaskan name. Federal agencies were instructed to use the new names, though congressional action was required for public law. The Associated Press's continued use of "Gulf of Mexico" led to its exclusion from some press events. In early 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reversed decisions made under the Biden administration to rename nine Army bases that had honored Confederate leaders, restoring their original names. In August 2026, amid trade disputes with Canada, Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America," a change that applies to US federal use. He has also repeatedly proposed renaming the Atlantic Ocean the "American Ocean," despite pushback from tech companies regarding map updates.