On Sunday, former President Donald Trump disclosed that he seriously contemplated naming the Gulf of Mexico as "Trump Gulf" before ultimately deciding to rename it "Gulf of America" for the sake of public perception.
This revelation came during an interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," where Trump humorously recounted the deliberation process leading to the final decision.
"I must tell you, I was thinking of calling it Trump Gulf, but I chose not to," Trump shared candidly. "I believe it was a wise decision, as it might not have been well-received."
Trump openly discussed his thought process: "I considered naming it Trump Gulf. Then I thought, you know, it might not be the best look."
The "Gulf of America" Initiative
Renaming the Gulf of Mexico was one of Trump's initial actions as he commenced his second term. On January 20, 2025, the very day of his inauguration, he signed Executive Order 14172, titled "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness," which instructed the Secretary of the Interior to rebrand the U.S. continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."
The Department of the Interior verified that federal agencies would adopt this new designation starting January 24, 2025, and the U.S. Geological Survey updated its geographic database retroactively to reflect the change from the date of the order.
Controversy and International Response
On February 9, 2025, Trump declared it the inaugural "Gulf of America Day" while flying over the area en route to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans aboard Air Force One.
This decision sparked significant international controversy. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded by displaying a 1607 map and suggesting renaming the United States as "Mexican America," emphasizing that the "Gulf of Mexico" has a history spanning over 400 years and is recognized by the United Nations.
Tech giants like Google and Apple implemented the name change for U.S. users in February 2025, although the original name remains on maps in Mexico and other countries. Sheinbaum even threatened to sue Google over this update.
Impact and Legislative Developments
Florida was the pioneer state to incorporate the new name in official documents on January 27, 2025, with Governor Ron DeSantis enacting two laws in April 2025 mandating the change across documents, maps, schools, and state agencies.
In May 2025, the House of Representatives narrowly passed the "Gulf of America Act of 2025" with a 211-206 vote, though its fate in the Senate remains uncertain.
The executive order's scope is confined to U.S. federal agencies and bears no weight in international law, leaving Mexico, Cuba, and international bodies not recognizing the new name.
Frequently Asked Questions about the "Gulf of America" Renaming
Why did Trump decide against naming it "Trump Gulf"?
Trump believed that naming it "Trump Gulf" might not be well-received publicly, so he opted for "Gulf of America" instead.
What was Mexico's response to the renaming?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested renaming the U.S. as "Mexican America" and highlighted the historical significance and international recognition of the "Gulf of Mexico."
How did tech companies react to the name change?
Companies like Google and Apple updated their platforms to reflect the new name for users in the United States, while maintaining the original name in other regions.