President Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz be renamed the “Trump Strait,” a move intended to assert American control over the vital waterway. The proposal comes as the six-month-old conflict between the United States and Iran shows no signs of resolution, with U.S. forces conducting fresh strikes near the strait on Tuesday following reports of Iranian minelaying efforts.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, the 80-year-old president questioned the current naming convention, stating, “Now that we have it under U.S.A. control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT??? Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before!” The White House later reinforced the suggestion by sharing a map of the Gulf on social media with the waterway labeled “Trump Strait,” adding, “It’s got a nice ring to it.”
This initiative is the latest in a series of geographical rebrandings pursued by the administration. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and recently signed an order designating Lake Ontario as “Lake America” amid ongoing trade disputes with Canada. Additionally, he has reverted the name of North America’s highest peak, Denali, back to Mount McKinley.
Beyond geographical landmarks, the president has overseen a broader trend of branding public institutions and initiatives after himself, including a peace institute, a “Trump Gold Card” for immigration, a “Trump Rx” drug-sales website, and the renaming of the Kennedy arts center in Washington. These actions have often been viewed as political maneuvers or attempts to distract from pressing domestic issues, such as the rising oil prices impacting U.S. consumers ahead of the November midterm elections.
Simultaneously, the U.S. Treasury released $1 coins on Wednesday featuring the president’s likeness to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. The move has drawn scrutiny as it appears to conflict with federal law, which prohibits the depiction of living presidents on national currency. Despite the ongoing war with Iran and the international implications of renaming a major maritime passage, the administration continues to push forward with these symbolic changes. The report also notes that since returning to office last year, Trump has made a string of similar renaming suggestions which started out as apparent attempts to troll his adversaries, but then came to fruition.
Source: Gulf Today
