In a characteristically bold revelation, US President Donald Trump shared on Sunday that he had briefly considered renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of Trump.” Speaking in a phone interview with Fox News, the President admitted that while the idea crossed his mind during discussions about rebranding the water body, he ultimately decided against it, concluding that the name “maybe wouldn’t have worked out.”
The “Gulf of Trump” proposal was part of a larger, successful initiative to remove the name “Mexico” from the region. On his inauguration day, January 20, 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14172, officially rebranding the water body as the “Gulf of America.” This move was a cornerstone of his “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” campaign, which directed federal agencies and the Department of the Interior to update all official maps and records.
The rebranding has already seen significant implementation:
- Federal Adoption: The US Geological Survey updated its records shortly after the order.
- Digital Changes: Google Maps now displays “Gulf of America” for US-based users.
- Commemoration: February 9 has been designated as “Gulf of America Day” following a presidential proclamation made while Trump was flying over the region.
The renaming has sparked significant international friction, particularly with Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticized the move, citing centuries of cartographic history and global recognition of the “Gulf of Mexico” name. Despite the pushback, the Trump administration maintains that the name change better reflects the area bounded by Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.