In a bold announcement at a press conference on Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump unveiled his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump described the proposal as a matter of national pride and practicality.
“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” Trump declared. “It has a beautiful ring to it, and it’s appropriate. We do most of the work there, and it’s ours.” He emphasized the symbolic significance of the name change, stating, “The Gulf of America covers a lot of territory, and it’s about time we make it official.”
Legislative Push Underway for Donald Trump Proposal
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) quickly backed the proposal, confirming plans to introduce legislation to make it a reality. “I’ll be introducing legislation ASAP to officially change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to its rightful name, the Gulf of America!” Greene announced on X (formerly Twitter), alongside a video of Trump’s comments.
The Gulf of Mexico, bordered by several U.S. states as well as Mexico and Cuba, is a vital region for energy production. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Gulf accounts for 14% of the country’s crude oil production and 5% of its natural gas output. Critics, however, question whether renaming the Gulf could complicate international relations with neighboring countries.
Geographic Naming Process
Natural feature name changes in the U.S. fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Board of Geographic Names. Established in 1890, the board discourages name changes unless there is a compelling reason. Trump, however, appeared unfazed by the procedural challenges, stating, “We’re going to make this happen. It’s just common sense.”
Trump’s remarks also included criticism of Mexico, calling it a “very dangerous place” and claiming the country is “essentially run by cartels.” While some see the name change as a symbolic assertion of U.S. dominance, others argue it risks alienating key trading partners.
As Trump prepares for his January 20 inauguration, this proposal adds to a list of controversial plans, including annexation of Canada and revisiting U.S. control of the Panama Canal. Whether the Gulf renaming gains traction remains to be seen, but the conversation has already ignited a firestorm of debate.