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← Signal: Tech & AI

Trump claims Google now 'kisses my ass' after refusing his calls in first term

Confirmed1 source · Oct 18, 2026

At a Kentucky rally, Trump suggested he personally convinced Google to adopt his renamed Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario in Google Maps.

Trump claims Google now 'kisses my ass' after refusing his calls in first term
Image via The Verge

What happened

During a rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky on October 17th, Donald Trump stated that Google Maps adopted his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario, claiming this demonstrated his increased power in his second term. Trump said: 'Google wouldn't have taken my call in the first term. Now they kiss my ass.' Trump implied he had personally convinced Google to make these changes. However, Google stated it simply reflects 'official government sources, which is GNIS for the US' and follows its long-standing policy for bodies of water with names that vary by country.

Context

Trump's claim reflects a broader pattern of Silicon Valley companies, including Google and its CEO Sundar Pichai, attempting to build favor with the Trump administration through gifts, compliments, and donations to his projects during his second term. The dispute centers on who or what drove Google's map updates—Trump's personal influence versus Google's stated adherence to official government naming sources. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's specific claims.

What's disputed

Whether Trump personally convinced Google to update its maps, or whether Google automatically reflects official government naming sources as it claims.