Trump Proposes Renaming Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America Sparking Global Debate

“It has a beautiful ring to it,” Trump said of his proposal, which he framed as part of a broader foreign policy agenda. The announcement left many world leaders stunned, drew ridicule from Mexican officials, and became fodder for late-night comedians. Still, the idea found support among some of Trump’s political allies, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who vowed to push for its implementation.

The name “Gulf of Mexico” dates back centuries, first appearing on maps created by Spanish explorers in the 16th century — long before the United States even existed.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum weighed in on Wednesday by showcasing a 1607 map labeling the gulf as “Gulf of Mexico” and North America as “Mexican America.” Mocking Trump’s proposal, she quipped, “Why don’t we call it Mexican America? It sounds pretty, no?”

Can Trump Actually Rename the Gulf?

As president, Trump would have the authority to advocate for name changes within U.S. geographical boundaries. A notable precedent exists: in 2015, President Obama used executive powers to rename Alaska’s Mount McKinley to its traditional name, Denali. Trump himself has vowed to reverse that decision, underscoring how symbolic these name changes can be.

However, any effort to rename the Gulf of Mexico would face significant hurdles. International adoption of such a change would be highly unlikely. John Nyberg, director of the International Hydrographic Organization, noted that there is no formal global protocol for renaming maritime regions.

In the United States, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which handles domestic naming decisions, only considers changes for “compelling” reasons, emphasizing the importance of local acceptance.

Disputes Over Geographic Names Aren’t New

The Gulf of Mexico isn’t the only body of water with a contested name. For decades, the name of the sea separating Iran and Saudi Arabia has been a point of conflict: Iran insists on calling it the “Persian Gulf,” while Saudi Arabia prefers the term “Arabian Gulf.” The U.S. Navy, for its part, uses “Arabian Gulf” to avoid offending Saudi Arabia, though the U.S. Board on Geographic Names mandates “Persian Gulf” for official government use.

A similar dispute surrounds the waters between Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Russia. While Japan refers to it as the Sea of Japan, South Korea asserts that it has historically been called the East Sea.

Further disputes exist in Southeast Asia, where the South China Sea is claimed by multiple nations. Countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia have all proposed alternative names for the sea to bolster their territorial claims.