Gulf of America Officially Renamed by Federal Government
The Gulf of Mexico has been formally renamed as the Gulf of America by the U.S. federal government on Trump’s order. This change ignites international dialogue about naming conventions and territorial claims.
The Gulf of Mexico has been officially renamed to the Gulf of America by the federal Board on Geographic Names, following one of President Donald Trump's first executive orders. This move does not change the name used by other countries, with Mexico's president specifically stating a refusal to acknowledge the name change.
During a flight over the Gulf on Air Force 1 while attending the Super Bowl, Trump proclaimed the day as the "first-ever Gulf of America Day." Interior Secretary Doug Burgum shared an official USGS map image that reflected the new name on social media.
Since the name change was issued on January 20, various U.S. agencies have started to adopt the new designation, and it will now be uniformly used across the federal government as it has been updated in the Geographic Names Information System. Google has also been reported to modify its maps accordingly, while Apple has not responded regarding its potential changes.
In a light-hearted response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo suggested she might begin referring to the United States as "Mexican America." The situation reflects a broader international naming convention, where the name preferred by the nation a geographic feature belongs to is typically used.
In addition to the Gulf's renaming, the tallest mountain in North America has reverted to Mount McKinley for the federal government, a name that had been changed to Denali during President Barack Obama's administration. Trump criticized the previous renaming, framing it as a slight against President William McKinley, who he highlighted for his economic policies and territorial acquisitions.
Despite the official name change, Denali National Park and Preserve will retain its original name.
