Trump Holds Tennessee Rally, Proposes 'Trump Ocean'
The former president also touted economic investments and criticized Iran's leadership.
President Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Saturday, where he discussed economic development, foreign policy, and suggested renaming oceans.
During the event, which featured musician Kid Rock, Trump highlighted billions of dollars in manufacturing investments planned for the state. He specifically mentioned Korea Zinc's commitment of over $6 billion for a new critical-minerals smelter in Clarksville and the reopening of a mine, a project Tennessee officials described as the largest single private corporate investment in state history. Trump also cited General Motors' previously announced $275 million investment in its Spring Hill manufacturing facility.
The former president credited his tariff policies with encouraging domestic investment, stating that companies were expanding American manufacturing to avoid import duties. A White House fact sheet released prior to the rally asserted that Republican-backed tax policies had preserved $23 billion in economic activity in Tennessee and cited an average $3,674 tax refund for residents in 2026.
Trump also addressed public safety, praising federal law-enforcement operations in Memphis and claiming that approximately 12,000 dangerous criminals had been removed. The White House asserted that murders and overall crime in Memphis had declined approximately 36%, crediting the Memphis Safe Task Force.
On foreign policy, Trump called Iran's leaders "crazy" and suggested that their rhetoric had softened following U.S. military operations. He claimed that Iran's military capabilities had been significantly degraded, stating that many of their ships had been sunk and their air force and air-defense systems destroyed.
In a notable moment, Trump floated the idea of renaming geographical features, suggesting the Strait of Hormuz could become the "Trump Strait." He also revisited his earlier proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America" and suggested that either the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean could be renamed the "Trump Ocean" or "Ocean of the Americas."
The rally took place ahead of the November midterm elections, with Trump campaigning for Republican candidates, including Sen. Bill Hagerty and gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn. Trump urged attendees to support Republican candidates, asking them to "pretend that I'm running."
Kid Rock opened the rally, offering a humorous introduction and criticizing the news media while defending religious freedom.