# Trump's renaming of gulfs & lakes? Now he's trying states . . **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 7, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878 "2026-09-07T17:24:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/41 "2026-09-09T14:45:55Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > GNIS is not the system of record for the names of states. It’s a system of record for where to find geographical features, which includes mentioning what state they’re in. So I guess it’s plausible that he could amend it to say that the Grand Canyon is located in Trumpizona, sure. But that doesn’t create any state named Trumpizona, nor rename the state of Arizona, and anyway a silly change like that could be trivially undone by a future administration . Exactly right. At very best, what Trump effectively does is apply a short-term “_use or else!_” code to a given geographical entity. Only agencies reporting to him are bound to comply. It’s not _functionally_ different than a federal agency applying a **[FIPs code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Information_Processing_Standard_state_code)** to a US state or a county within a state. No one thinks that the federal government renamed Fulton County, Georgia as “ **13121** ”. When “13121” is used, say, in applications for HHS grants to Atlanta-area private-non-profit healthcare facilities … no one wrings their hands about it. What’s different about the Trump geographical codings is that there’s no function intended whatsoever. Making others wrong their hands about it is the beginning and the end. Well, that plus stroking Trump’s ego. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/42 "2026-09-09T14:52:12Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Trump isn’t _actually_ renaming anything. He spouts a dumb meme on social media, and his cultists and assorted corporate suck-ups hop on board . See also the various maps his social media team\*\* posts to Truth Social. “_Oh noes! This one’s got Canada and Greenland covered in stars and stripes! Must express much concern NOW! Invasion is imminent!_ [Sam Kinison style yelling]” OK, take a deep breath. That was EXACTLY the reaction his social media team sought to elicit. Giftwrapped for him and your local neighborhood MAGA crowd. \*\* _C’mon, it ain’t Trump doing all that. Not enough hours in the day._ ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/43 "2026-09-09T14:57:46Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > That was EXACTLY the reaction his social media team sought to elicit. Nevertheless, there are also risks to ignoring threats to sovereignty. Iceland summoned the US ambassador not because they took an AI-slop social media post seriously, but because “it’s just a joke, man” is a lie. Sometimes it’s also a trial balloon (see also: Ukraine). ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/44 "2026-09-09T15:13:43Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Nevertheless, there are also risks to ignoring threats to sovereignty. Iceland summoned the US ambassador not because they took an AI-slop social media post seriously, but because “it’s just a joke, man” is a lie. Sometimes it’s also a trial balloon (see also: Ukraine) . I hear you, but the U.S. isn’t Russia yet. It’s hard for me to apply Russia-Ukraine as a comparable to The U.S.-Canada, say. Trump doesn’t have Putin’s level of power over his nation. Nevertheless, I agree that Iceland, Denmark/Greenland, and Canada should definitely fire back when and as they deem necessary. Let the adults currently abrogating their duties know that their land can’t be had without blood, and lots of it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/45 "2026-09-09T15:20:53Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > I hear you, but the U.S. isn’t Russia yet. It’s hard for me to apply Russia-Ukraine as a comparable to The U.S.-Canada, say. That’s possibly because you’re not in Canada. People here are talking this all very seriously, even if we think a boots-on-the-ground invasion is unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/46 "2026-09-09T15:27:11Z")
He needs to think bigger. How about: Mercury, Venus, Trump, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune & Pluto? (I’ll never abandon my beloved Pluto!) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/47 "2026-09-09T15:36:15Z")
Now he’ll have to find new names for New York and New Hampshire, both of which were named after a couple of British shitholes. Worse, Virginia was named after a British monarch. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/48 "2026-09-09T15:53:41Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > I hear you, but the U.S. isn’t Russia yet. It’s hard for me to apply Russia-Ukraine as a comparable to The U.S.-Canada, say. Trump doesn’t have Putin’s level of power over his nation. Trump is the commander in chief. Recently, when Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Pacific Command was asked if he would follow orders to attack Canada, he replied “Canada is a close ally,” But he added, **“I follow the orders of the president.”** So yes, Trump does have absolute control over the military and who they attack. ---
**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/49 "2026-09-09T16:04:17Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I’m just laying out the mechanics of why renaming a state is different than renaming other random geographic features ETA: shoulda read the whole thread before jumping in - but in my defense, some of us locals don’t get out much… “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” was officially renamed “Rhode Island” via a statewide referendum in 2020, although many physical instances of the old name remain on public buildings, etc. [and not hidden behind tarps…] But, yes, the people of the state itself decided on the change. [Voters strip 'Providence Plantations' from Rhode Island's formal name | PBS News](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/voters-strip-providence-plantations-from-rhode-islands-formal-name) ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/50 "2026-09-09T16:13:50Z")
> [@vbob](#): > > “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” was officially renamed “Rhode Island” via a statewide referendum in 2020… Nitpick: The “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” was officially renamed the "State of Rhode Island.” As noted in Post #32: > [@Trump's renaming of gulfs & lakes? Now he's trying states . .](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/32): > > Nitpick: the official name of the state changed from the “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” to the “State of Rhode Island”. I work with state and municipal governments all the time. The “State of…” or “Commonwealth of…” or “City of…” is part of the legal name. Here in Connecticut, there is a “City of Groton” and a “Town of Groton.” (Counterintuitively, the jurisdiction of the city is surrounded by that of the town, because the town is a sub-county division, what some other sta… > [@vbob](#): > > …although many physical instances of the old name remain on public buildings, etc. Including my son’s birth certificate, I noticed last night. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/51 "2026-09-09T16:25:23Z")
> [@vbob](#): > > “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” was officially renamed “Rhode Island” via a statewide referendum in 2020, although many physical instances of the old name remain on public buildings, etc. [and not hidden behind tarps…] But, yes, the people of the state itself decided on the change. That’s an interesting case, because since Rhode Island etc was a founding colony, it was never admitted but was named in Article 1. So we do have a case where a state decided to rename itself to something different from what the Constitution states. It’s not a problem because everyone understands that Rhode Island has the power to rename itself, and it’s clear enough that “The State Of Rhode Island” is the same state with a new name, so none of its rights are affected. No constitutional amendment to rename a state would ever be ratified, because no constitutional amendment is ever going to be ratified again, and if it were, it certainly wouldn’t be a state rename. Trump could issue an EO saying that everywhere the federal government references Rhode Island, it’s now called Trump Island. Or Congress could pass that same law. Google would probably roll over. SCOTUS might. Rhode Island would ignore it, and most other states probably would too. Trump’s ability to break laws is only as strong as anyone’s desire to stop him, but his ability to make policy depends on his ability to force others to abide by it. He doesn’t control states, so he can only pretend to rename them. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/52 "2026-09-09T16:42:39Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > So yes, Trump does have absolute control over the military and who they attack. _ **Absolute** _ control? Disagree, but can’t exactly prove it on a whiteboard. But there is a ready mechanism for Trump’s swift removal that doesn’t exist in Russia for Putin. If Trump were to go _that_ far off the reservation (which I consider a patent impossibility, but can’t prove it), he risks insta-impeachment and insta-conviction in the US Senate. “_Would never happen – too many Republican sycophants!_” Nevertheless, Trump will never roll those dice. In the end, Trump’s just not going to do it. “_But how do you know? HOW DO YOU KNOW?!?!?!?_” Well, I don’t know that. I do know that direct orders can be slow-rolled, or complied with maliciously (e.g. “_Whoopsie – sorry Mr. President, the guidance system went awry. It will take a few weeks to get the parts and get it fixed_.”) Trump is not a field marshal – the orders he’d give will be vague enough and militarily naive enough that heady officers on the ground can “comply” without risking harm to Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/53 "2026-09-09T17:05:50Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > But there is a ready mechanism for Trump’s swift removal that doesn’t exist in Russia for Putin. On paper, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/54 "2026-09-09T18:51:28Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > So yes, Trump does have absolute control over the military and who they attack. Were you expecting a flag officer to publicly declare on the record that he intends to commit sedition? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/55 "2026-09-09T18:55:33Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > [@bordelond](#): > > > > I hear you, but the U.S. isn’t Russia yet. It’s hard for me to apply Russia-Ukraine as a comparable to The U.S.-Canada, say. Trump doesn’t have Putin’s level of power over his nation. > > Trump is the commander in chief. Recently, when Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Pacific Command was asked if he would follow orders to attack Canada, he replied “Canada is a close ally,” > But he added, **“I follow the orders of the president.”** > > So yes, Trump does have absolute control over the military and who they attack. I vaguely remember a Straight Dope column in which Cecil or the SDSAB wrote that a high-level member of the Nixon administration (Secretary of Defense?) informed the Pentagon to let him know if any “unusual” orders came from the White House. They were apparently afraid that Nixon would decide to nuke the world in retaliation for the Watergate scandal which was forcing his resignation. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/56 "2026-09-09T18:58:00Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Well, I don’t know that. I do know that direct orders can be slow-rolled, or complied with maliciously (e.g. “_Whoopsie – sorry Mr. President, the guidance system went awry. It will take a few weeks to get the parts and get it fixed_.”) Trump is not a field marshal – the orders he’d give will be vague enough and militarily naive enough that heady officers on the ground can “comply” without risking harm to Canada. I think most of the higher-ups that might have gone that route have been replaced by loyalists. The possibility of that kind of indirect disobedience has been greatly diminished. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/57 "2026-09-09T19:14:51Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think most of the higher-ups that might have gone that route have been replaced by loyalists. I hope the administration’s clairvoyance was especially finely tuned when they sought to replace anyone at the command level who might be “disloyal”. Loyalty – even sincerely held loyalty – can be (and heck: among the powerful, usually is) situational. Backing Trump politically on the home front is not the same as backing the totality of his “foreign policy” and especially his military “leadership”. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/58 "2026-09-09T19:15:54Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > > [@bordelond](#): > > > > I hear you, but the U.S. isn’t Russia yet. It’s hard for me to apply Russia-Ukraine as a comparable to The U.S.-Canada, say. > > That’s possibly because you’re not in Canada. People here are talking this all very seriously I’m not. My impression is that we’re just happily ignoring the stupidity. Online maps like Google still label Lake Ontario with its correct name for Canadian IP addresses. I’m doubtful that many printed maps will change since the expectation is that it will all change back once the dotard leaves office or drops dead. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/59 "2026-09-09T20:41:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Were you expecting a flag officer to publicly declare on the record that he intends to commit sedition? I expect him, and every fucking American citizen to do the right thing and get rid of the dementia patient in the Whitehouse. Sadly, everyone seems content to just watch the shit-show and shrug. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878/60 "2026-09-09T21:46:41Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I vaguely remember a Straight Dope column in which Cecil or the SDSAB wrote that a high-level member of the Nixon administration (Secretary of Defense?) informed the Pentagon to let him know if any “unusual” orders came from the White House. They were apparently afraid that Nixon would decide to nuke the world in retaliation for the Watergate scandal which was forcing his resignation. I don’t remember Cecil’s column, but this was reported in a number of places, always denied by the military. As @Smapti points out, this is likely because the message that the military would ever disobey a presidential order is not one anyone cares to record for posterity. I also recall that on January 6, Pence had to call out the National Guard, despite the fact that he did not have the authority. Powers that be at the highest levels of the military tend to be honorable and sane. They fully understand that the Constitution is not a suicide pact. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-renaming-of-gulfs-lakes-now-hes-trying-states/1032878.md?page=4)