Trump claims Google now bows to him after ignoring his calls in first term

US President Donald Trump said at a rally on Saturday, October 17, in Highland Heights, Kentucky, that he holds far more influence in his second term than in his first, citing technology company Google as an example. His account differs from the company's own explanation of why its maps changed certain place names.

What Trump said

While listing his accomplishments, Trump mentioned his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario. He said he can now do unbelievable things and claimed he had called Google about its mapping service, Google Maps. According to him, Google would not have taken his call during his first term, but now the company is extremely deferential, a point he expressed in crude language.

Google's explanation

Trump's remarks suggest he personally persuaded Google to reflect the new names. That appears to contradict a previous Google statement. The company said its maps rely on official government sources, which in the US means the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Google added that the updates follow its long-standing policy for bodies of water whose names differ from country to country.

Background

The Verge notes that throughout Trump's second term, Silicon Valley firms, including Google and its CEO Sundar Pichai, have worked to win the president's favor. They have reportedly given him gifts, compliments and donations to his pet projects. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's remarks.