During a recent gathering with members of the U.S. Navy in Baltimore, Maryland, Donald Trump once again mocked Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. With a mocking tone, he recounted a supposed phone call he received from her following his controversial decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
In Trump's tale, which was reported by EFE, Sheinbaum allegedly contacted him to plead against the decision: "It was a bit awkward when I did that. I received a call from the president of Mexico. She was a very nice, beautiful woman with a lovely voice, and she said, 'No, no, Mr. President. Please, please tell me it isn't so.'
Trump portrayed his response as dismissive: "'I'm sorry, ma'am. It is done. We've renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. That's just how it is. I'm sorry.'
This account stems solely from the Republican leader's narrative. There is no independent verification that Sheinbaum spoke those words or that such a call took place as described.
Recurrent Mockery and Questionable Claims
This wasn't the first occasion Trump utilized this anecdote publicly. On October 2, at an event in Mobile, Alabama, he shared a similar story, noting that he initially contemplated not answering the phone. The Baltimore incident merely served to reiterate and expand on a jest that has become a staple in Trump's speeches.
To rationalize the renaming, Trump claimed the U.S. controls "93% of the coastline" of the gulf, leaving Mexico with only 7%. "It never seemed logical to me to call it the Gulf of Mexico," he asserted.
However, this claim is demonstrably false. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography of Mexico (INEGI) and other sources, Mexico possesses approximately 3,294 kilometers of coastline along the gulf, compared to the 2,626 kilometers of the U.S., which equates to 55.7% and 44.3% of the shared coastline, respectively.
Executive Order Sparks Controversy
The renaming was enacted through Executive Order 14172, signed by Trump on January 20, 2025, the day of his inauguration. This directive mandates U.S. federal agencies to use "Gulf of America" in official documents and maps. However, it does not alter the international name or the sovereignty over the waters.
Sheinbaum has consistently rejected the new designation, maintaining that globally, it remains known as the Gulf of Mexico. She humorously suggested renaming the United States as "Mexican America" in response to Trump's action.
The friction between the two leaders intensified in September 2026, when Trump posted a provocative map on Truth Social, depicting Cuba, Mexico, and Canada under the U.S. flag. Sheinbaum firmly responded, "In the month of our national heritage, we reaffirm that Mexico is neither a colony nor a protectorate of any foreign country."
Trump's Pattern of Ridicule
Public mockery of foreign leaders has become a hallmark of Trump's political style. He has mimicked French President Emmanuel Macron with a French accent, likened U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to appeaser Chamberlain, and insists on calling Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney a "governor," in a persistent pattern of derogatory behavior with various international figures.
Key Insights into Trump's Gulf Renaming Controversy
Why did Trump rename the Gulf of Mexico?
Trump claimed that the U.S. controls the majority of the gulf's coastline, which he cited as a reason for renaming it the Gulf of America, although this claim is inaccurate.
What is the response from Mexico regarding the name change?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly dismissed the new name, asserting that internationally it remains the Gulf of Mexico.
Is there any official confirmation of Sheinbaum's alleged call to Trump?
No independent verification exists of the alleged phone call or the conversation as described by Trump.