President Trump, during a press briefing, shared that he had considered renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of Trump before settling on the Gulf of America, citing the United States’ dominant shoreline presence as a key factor in the change. This remark came amid discussions of other policy actions, including designating English as the official language and military operations against Venezuela and Iran. The comments highlight ongoing efforts by the administration to assert national identity and security priorities, especially as tensions in the region persist following recent international engagements.
In the briefing, Trump elaborated on the reasoning behind the rename. “We also took the Gulf of Mexico and now it’s the Gulf of America because we have 92 percent of the shoreline,” he said. “It always bothered me. I’d say, you know, we have most of the shoreline. Mexico has a small percentage, talks about 8 percent. We have 92 percent. And I said why is it the Gulf of Mexico? It should be the Gulf of America.”
He then joked about an even more personal name change. “I was going to call it the Gulf of Trump, but I thought that I would be killed if I did that. I wanted to do it. I wanted to. My people worked so hard. Sir, I don’t think it’ll look too good. I’m telling you it’s a good thing. And it’ll be hotter than ever, I said. No, but I decided not to do that. I’m joking, you know, when I say that. I was not going to call it the Gulf of Trump because — tomorrow it’ll be Trump wanted to call it the Gulf of Trump, but he was rebuffed by his people. My people don’t rebuff me too much. The Gulf of Trump, that does have a good ring, though. Maybe we could do that. It’s not too late. No, we have the Gulf of America now. It’s great. It’s — our country is proud.”
He was not joking
— Lara (@TradingLara) January 20, 2026
He was going to call the "Gulf of Mexico", the "Gulf of Trump"
And even if he wasn't, you know that he thought about it pic.twitter.com/oimrWjDTDY
The Gulf of Mexico has a long history dating back to European exploration in the 16th century. Spanish explorers named it after Mexico, derived from the Nahuatl word for the Mexica people who established the Aztec empire, as it served as the body of water leading to New Spain. The name first appeared on maps around 1550, reflecting the colonial focus on the Mexican mainland. Over centuries, the gulf has been central to trade, energy production, and environmental concerns, with its waters shared among the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. Trump made the official rename to the Gulf of America through Executive Order 14172 on January 20, 2025, his inauguration day for a second term. He later declared February 9 as Gulf of America Day to commemorate the change. The decision stemmed from a view that the United States controls the majority of the shoreline, which Trump stated as 92 percent compared to Mexico’s 8 percent. This move was part of broader initiatives to emphasize American sovereignty, occurring at a time when border security and regional influence were key administration focuses.
The rename has sparked discussions on geographic naming conventions and international relations, particularly with Mexico, though it remains a symbolic gesture without altering official maritime boundaries. As of now, federal agencies and maps reflect the new designation, aligning with the executive order’s directives.
