The World According to Trump

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz as “Trump Strait” despite ongoing clashes with Iran – then hours later implied he wasn’t serious. 

He has made a series of geographical name changes to international bodies of water in his second term, at least partly with the aim of trolling other countries. 

The latest suggestion came as Trump insisted the US had full control of the crucial waterway, even as fresh clashes raged there with Iran. 

“Now that we have it under USA control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT??? Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before!” Trump said on his Truth Social network. 

The White House later posted a map of the Gulf on social media with his suggested name, adding: “It’s got a nice ring to it”. 

Trump has in recent weeks repeatedly threatened to claim sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, even posting a map showing the waterway as a “new US territory”. Trump, however, later played down the idea of rebranding the Strait of Hormuz. 

This psychological warfare via cartography mirrors Executive Order 14422 Trump signed to officially rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America" on August 27, 2026. 

Even major tech platforms like Google Maps and Apple Maps have already updated their platforms to display "Lake America" exclusively for US-based users. 

The aggressive rebrand has sparked severe backlash from America's northern neighbor. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford both condemned the action, asserting the 400-year-old body of water will remain "Lake Ontario, now and forever". 

Ford's administration went as far as erecting a massive physical "Lake Ontario" signage on the shoreline as a direct jab back at Washington. 

The Great Lake rebranding marks the second official success of Trump's broader geographical campaign, following his executive order in early 2025 that legally designated the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on official US federal maps. 

I won't be surprised if the Pentagon’s next strategic deployment includes a highly armed team of graphic designers to update the world’s maps before the international borders decide to sue for trademark infringement! 😝