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Trump floats renaming New Mexico
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Trump suggested renaming Strait of Hormuz to 'Trump Strait' on Sep 2, 2026.
The move continues his pattern of renaming landmarks, but the strait is contested.
Background
Trump has repeatedly proposed renaming geographical features, often after himself, during his second term. This latest suggestion comes amid ongoing conflict with Iran over the strait, which he claims is under U.S. control. Previous renames include the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America' and Lake Ontario to 'Lake America', neither accepted by other countries.
How it unfolded
- Jan 2025Trump renamed Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America' on his first day back in office.
- Aug 2026Trump signed an order renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' amid trade war with Canada.
- Sep 2, 2026Trump suggested renaming Strait of Hormuz to 'Trump Strait' on Truth Social, asserting U.S. control.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- White House endorsed the idea, sharing a map with 'Trump Strait' and caption 'It's got a nice ring to it.'
- Public
- Some observers note that previous name changes started as jokes but were followed through, suggesting this may be serious.
Still unverified
Trump later suggested he was not serious about the proposal, but the White House appeared to endorse it.