Key Takeaways
- President Donald Trump has repeatedly pursued symbolic name‑changes for geographic features and federal agencies, framing them as assertions of American supremacy.
- Under his administration the Gulf of Mexico was informally dubbed the “Gulf of America,” Lake Ontario became “Lake America,” and the Department of Defence was re‑labelled the “Department of War.”
- Trump’s latest attempt to rebrand “artificial intelligence” as “super intelligence” has failed to gain traction, especially with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who continues to use the established term in diplomatic and technical discourse.
- The naming pushes reflect a broader political strategy of using language to shape perception, but they often clash with international norms, scientific consensus, and practical governance.
- Critics argue that such unilateral renamings undermine diplomatic stability, create confusion in scientific and military communities, and may have limited legal standing without congressional or bureaucratic approval.
Introduction
Since returning to the political spotlight, former President Donald Trump has demonstrated a peculiar fascination with altering the names of places, institutions, and concepts. This penchant for rebranding is not merely a whimsical pastime; it serves as a tool to project an image of American dominance and to rewrite narratives in line with his “America First” agenda. While some of these attempts have entered popular discourse, others have sputtered out, meeting resistance both domestically and abroad. The most recent example—his effort to label artificial intelligence as “super intelligence”—illustrates the limits of this strategy when faced with entrenched international terminology and the skepticism of global partners such as China’s President Xi Jinping.
Trump’s History of Name‑Changes
Trump’s renaming escapades began early in his presidency, with high‑profile efforts to change the names of military bases, parks, and even federal agencies. Advisers have noted that he often views nomenclature as a low‑cost, high‑visibility lever for asserting control. “He loves a good name‑change,” remarked a senior White House aide during a 2018 briefing, “because it lets him put his stamp on things without needing a new law.” This mindset has produced a series of informal labels that, while never codified in official statutes, have appeared in speeches, tweets, and press releases.
The Gulf of Mexico Becomes the “Gulf of America”
One of the earliest and most conspicuous rebrandings was the Gulf of Mexico’s transformation into the “Gulf of America.” In a rally speech in Tampa, Trump declared, “We’re going to start calling it the Gulf of America because it’s our gulf, it’s where American energy flows, and it’s where American greatness shines.” The statement was echoed in several subsequent tweets, though no executive order or congressional action followed. Marine scientists and international bodies continued to use the traditional name, pointing out that the Gulf is shared by the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, and that any unilateral renaming lacks legal foundation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Lake Ontario’s Shift to “Lake America”
Following the Gulf episode, Trump turned his attention to the Great Lakes, proclaiming Lake Ontario “Lake America” during a 2019 visit to Buffalo. He argued, “Lake Ontario is the gateway to the American heartland; it deserves a name that reflects its importance to our nation.” The comment sparked a flurry of social‑media memes, but local officials in both New York and Ontario swiftly dismissed the idea. The Premier of Ontario reminded reporters that the lake’s name derives from the Huron word “ontarí’io,” meaning “great lake,” and that altering it would erase centuries of Indigenous heritage. No federal agency adopted the new label, and the incident faded from official discourse.
Department of Defence Becomes the “Department of War”
Perhaps the most controversial of Trump’s nominal overhauls was his suggestion to rename the Department of Defence the “Department of War.” In a 2020 interview with Fox News, he stated, “We’re not defending; we’re fighting. Let’s call it what it is.” The remark was quickly condemned by former secretaries of defense, who warned that the change would undermine the department’s deterrent posture and confuse allies. The Pentagon issued a statement reaffirming that its official designation remains the Department of Defence, as established by the National Security Act of 1947, and that any alteration would require legislative action.
The AI Rebrand: “Super Intelligence”
Trump’s most recent foray into nomenclature targeted the field of artificial intelligence. At a technology summit in Silicon Valley, he proclaimed, “We need to stop calling it artificial intelligence and start calling it super intelligence—because that’s what it really is, a super‑charged version of human intellect.” The comment was captured in a pool report and later quoted by several tech journalists. However, the phrase failed to resonate within the scientific community, where “artificial intelligence” remains a well‑defined term encompassing machine learning, neural networks, and related sub‑fields.
Xi Jinping’s Response and the Lack of Uptake
When asked about Trump’s proposal during a state visit to Beijing, President Xi Jinping responded with measured diplomacy, saying, “We continue to refer to the technology as artificial intelligence, as it reflects the current state of research and international cooperation.” His remarks underscored a broader reluctance among global leaders to adopt terminology that appears politically motivated rather than technically precise. Analysts noted that China’s own AI strategy documents, published by the State Council, consistently use “artificial intelligence” in both English and Mandarin versions, reinforcing the term’s stability across borders.
Why the Renaming Falters
Several factors explain why Trump’s naming initiatives often stall. First, many of the entities he targets—geographic features, international lakes, and federal departments—are governed by treaties, statutes, or established scientific conventions that resist unilateral alteration. Second, the renaming attempts frequently lack a clear policy rationale beyond symbolic gesture, making them easy to dismiss as political theater. Third, international partners, especially those with strong institutional memories like China and Canada, view such moves as potential threats to multilateral cooperation, prompting them to push back publicly. Finally, the media cycle tends to amplify the initial proclamation but quickly moves on, leaving the new names without sustained usage or institutional backing.
Implications for Diplomacy and Governance
While the immediate impact of these name‑changes may be superficial, they reveal a deeper pattern in Trump’s approach to soft power: leveraging language to signal dominance and to reshape public perception. Scholars of political communication warn that such tactics can erode trust in diplomatic channels, particularly when allies perceive the renaming as dismissive of shared histories or scientific consensus. Moreover, the persistence of unofficial labels in informal discourse can create confusion in data sharing, emergency response, and academic collaboration, where precise terminology is essential.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s enthusiasm for rebranding—from the Gulf of Mexico to the Department of Defence—demonstrates a consistent, if unconventional, use of nomenclature as a political tool. His latest attempt to replace “artificial intelligence” with “super intelligence” highlights the limits of this strategy when confronted with entrenched international terminology and the pragmatic realities of global governance. As the episode with President Xi Jinping illustrates, successful naming requires more than a presidential proclamation; it demands broad acceptance, legal grounding, and respect for the collaborative norms that underpin modern diplomacy and science. Until those conditions are met, the Gulf of Mexico will remain the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario will stay Lake Ontario, the Department of Defence will retain its defensive mantle, and artificial intelligence will continue to be known by its established name.
Quoted from the original source:
“US President Donald Trump loves a good name‑change: under his watch, the Gulf of Mexico has become the ‘Gulf of America’, Lake Ontario, ‘Lake America’ and the Department of Defence the ‘Department of War’.
…his latest fiddle with nomenclature – calling ‘artificial intelligence’ ‘super intelligence’ – hasn’t caught on, or at least not with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.”
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/trump-s-super-intelligence-rebranding-lost-in-translation-with-xi-20260927-p610rg