The U.S. Department of the Interior announced on Friday that the Gulf of Mexico will now be referred to as the “Gulf of America.”
This bold move, initiated by President Donald Trump, aligns with his administration’s efforts to prioritize American identity and reclaim national heritage. Alongside this renaming, Trump also reinstated the name “Mount McKinley” for Denali, the tallest peak in North America, reversing a decision made during the Obama administration to honor the native Alaskan name.
Renaming the Gulf as it pertains to the United States falls within the purview of Trump’s executive authority. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has already adopted the change, using “Gulf of America” in an official winter weather advisory to describe a low-pressure system moving across the region toward Florida.
However, the new designation is not binding for other nations. When President Trump initially announced his intentions, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded with sharp wit, suggesting the U.S. consider renaming itself “Mexican America.”
“The Gulf of America”, a symbol of American Greatness
President Trump first introduced the idea of renaming the Gulf during a press conference earlier this month. In his inaugural address, he reaffirmed the plan, tying it to his broader vision of restoring American prominence.
“The United States will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, and most respected nation on Earth,” he declared. “Renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America is just the beginning.”
The initiative is part of Trump’s broader ambitions to reimagine the Western Hemisphere’s map. During his first term, he referred to Canada as the “51st state,” proposed acquiring Greenland from Denmark, and urged Panama to relinquish control of the Panama Canal. In his inaugural address, he reiterated the importance of restoring U.S. influence over critical waterways, including the canal.
Since his 2016 campaign, Trump has often clashed with Mexico on issues ranging from border security to trade tariffs. Early on, he famously pledged to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and insisted Mexico would foot the bill. During his first term, the U.S. constructed or refurbished approximately 450 miles of border barriers.
The Gulf of Mexico, often called America’s “Third Coast,” spans the southeastern shorelines of five U.S. states. Mexicans, meanwhile, refer to the same body of water as “El Golfo de México.”
This is not the first time U.S. and Mexican nomenclature has diverged over significant geographical landmarks. The river forming the border between Texas and several northern Mexican states is called the Rio Grande in the U.S., but Mexicans know it as the Rio Bravo.
Is the Renaming Official?
While President Trump has the authority to enforce the new name domestically, it is unlikely to gain universal recognition. International naming conventions are governed by organizations like the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which includes both the U.S. and Mexico as members. The IHO works to standardize names for oceans, seas, and waterways across the globe.
In practice, nations often use localized names for shared landmarks. Whether the rest of the world will adopt the term “Gulf of America” remains uncertain, but the decision has already sparked significant debate and criticism from leaders, citizens, and international organizations alike.
