Trump says Google CEO Pichai rejected renaming Atlantic Ocean

President Donald Trump claimed at a South Carolina rally that Google CEO Sundar Pichai refused his request to rename the Atlantic Ocean on Google Maps, marking a rare rebuff after the company complied with earlier name changes. Trump said Pichai told him, 'No, no, no — this time I’m not doing it… Oceans are different, sir,' citing that oceans cover many countries Source: The Next WebSource: The Verge. Trump said he would 'probably pass' on the idea but floated renaming the Pacific Ocean the 'American Ocean' instead Source: Euronews.

Background

Google previously relabeled the Gulf of Mexico as 'Gulf of America' for US users following Trump's executive order, and later changed Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' Source: GizmodoSource: engadget. Apple Maps followed suit Source: engadget. These changes drew criticism from Mexico and Canada Source: The Guardian.

Disagreements and caveats

• No independent confirmation: Google has not confirmed the call took place Source: The Next WebSource: Gizmodo.
• Inconsistent accounts: Trump told a similar story five days earlier in Georgia, where he said he had sent Google a picture labeled 'The Trump Ocean' and that they said 'this one we can’t do' Source: The Next Web.
• Rationale questioned: engadget notes that the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario also touch multiple countries, undercutting the 'oceans cover many countries' argument Source: engadget.

What's next

Trump suggested renaming the Pacific Ocean the 'American Ocean' and joked about European reactions Source: Euronews. He has also previously floated renaming the Strait of Hormuz after himself Source: The Guardian.