In a shocking move, President Donald Trump announced that the city of Portland would be renamed “Poop” on all official US maps, effective immediately.
Trump claimed that the city had “become a total disaster, maybe the worst in history” and that everyone had left, telling Fox News, “they’ve ruined that city. Everyone’s left, everyone tells me it’s like living in hell. So we’re just calling it what it is: Poop.”
The president’s decision comes after clashes between protesters and federal agents outside Portland’s ICE facility.
Trump previously suggested deploying the National Guard to quell the unrest, but now claims renaming the city is a more cost-effective solution. “Look, we saved a fortune. No tanks, no helicopters — just a Sharpie and a couple of guys at Rand McNally,” Trump said. “Beautiful maps. The best maps. Everyone’s saying it’s genius.”
Local officials are outraged by the decision. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson stated, “While we welcome robust debate, our residents do not deserve to have their city relabeled ‘Poop’ by the federal government.
The name Portland has cultural and historical significance, and contrary to the president’s remarks, the city has not been converted into fecal matter.”
Governor Tina Kotek’s office warned that the move may trigger “serious constitutional questions” about executive authority over cartographic nomenclature.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield vowed to sue, saying, “We will not hesitate to defend our state’s dignity against this bathroom-level slander.”
Despite the backlash, White House aides confirmed the plan is moving forward, with federal agencies instructed to begin reprinting signage, highway markers, and tourism brochures.
The US Geological Survey said updates would also extend to digital GPS platforms, potentially directing millions of drivers to “Turn left toward Poop.”
Residents in Portland have reacted with a mix of disbelief and resignation. Some see potential benefits, with one protester outside City Hall shrugging, “Honestly, it might improve tourism. Who doesn’t want to say they’ve been to Poop?”
Another resident, while critical of the city’s condition, whispered, “I mean… look around. Between the tents, the graffiti, and the smell? He might actually be onto something. Just don’t tell my neighbors I said that.”
However, many others reject the idea outright. A woman holding a “Portland Stands Tall” sign near Pioneer Courthouse Square said, “This is classic Trump — childish, petty, and totally detached from reality. We’re not Poop. We’re a city of artists, dreamers, and people who actually recycle. If anything, he’s the one full of crap.”
The controversy surrounding geographical naming disputes has taken a new turn with Donald Trump’s recent decisions. Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” has sparked intense debate, with many questioning the motivations behind this move.
The order, signed on January 20, 2025, directs US federal agencies to use the new name, although it does not compel private companies or foreign entities to follow suit.
This isn’t the first time a geographical naming dispute has made headlines. The decision to rename Portland to “Poop” on official US maps, as you’ve mentioned, seems to be in line with Trump’s unconventional approach to governance, where symbolism and publicity often take center stage.
Similarly, the “Gulf of America” renaming has been met with resistance, with over 70% of Americans opposing the change, according to a February 2025 poll by Marquette University.
The reactions to these decisions have been mixed. Some argue that such changes reinforce an “America First” agenda and reflect a renewed emphasis on national heritage.
However, others see it as a politicization of geography, potentially setting a precedent for future administrations to make similar changes.
The US Geological Survey has updated the Geographic Names Information System to reflect the new name “Gulf of America”, while some major online map platforms like Google Maps have varied the name displayed based on device location settings.
Internationally, the renaming has sparked criticism, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suing Google over the change and proposing to rename North America “Mexican America”.
The UK has declined to recognize the new name, sticking to the traditional “Gulf of Mexico” based on common usage. The controversy highlights the complexities of geographical naming and the potential implications of politicizing these names.
About The Author
