WASHINGTON — For over 400 years, the expansive waterway extending from Florida to Texas and through Mexico has been recognized as the Gulf of Mexico. Recently, however, President Donald Trump and officials from the White House have made attempts to redefine it as the Gulf of America, encouraging others to adopt the new terminology.
“It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America,” stated White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on February 12. “This administration is committed to ensuring that this is acknowledged correctly, not only for citizens here but also for international audiences.”
Despite these assertions, Trump’s initiative to alter the geographic nomenclature presents numerous challenges. Changing the name involves more complexities than simply making a declaration.
Did Trump officially rename the Gulf of Mexico? Prior to his inauguration on January 20, Trump had announced his intent to change the Gulf of Mexico’s designation to the “Gulf of America,” and he signed an executive order to authorize this change as soon as he took office.
Can he independently enforce this renaming? While he may change the name for official U.S. purposes, he cannot dictate its use globally. The International Hydrographic Organization, which counts both the United States and Mexico among its members, is responsible for ensuring a consistent naming convention for the world’s waters and regularly surveys them. It is not uncommon for different countries to refer to the same body of water by varying names in their official documents.
Renaming geographical features within a single country’s boundaries can sometimes be more straightforward. For instance, in 2015, President Barack Obama approved an order from the Department of the Interior to officially rename Mount McKinley—the highest peak in North America—to Denali, a change that Trump later reversed.
Are there others who are adopting Trump’s renaming? Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum dismissed Trump’s assertion, asserting that he can use any name he wishes for the U.S. part of the water. “For us, it remains the Gulf of Mexico, and for the entire world, it is still the Gulf of Mexico,” she stated shortly after Trump enacted the executive order.
Google Maps has begun to display “Gulf of America” for its U.S. users, citing a “longstanding practice” of aligning with U.S. government naming conventions. Meanwhile, users in Mexico will still see Gulf of Mexico, and those accessing from other countries will view both names on their maps. Apple Maps has also adopted “Gulf of America” on certain browsers.
The news agency continues to acknowledge the Gulf of Mexico in its reporting while also mentioning Trump’s decision to alter its name. As a global news organization, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining recognizable place names for its audience.
Trump’s motivation behind this move can be traced back to his long-standing tensions with Mexico, whichdates back to his first presidential campaign in 2016. He frequently engaged with Mexico over various matters, including border security and tariffs on imports, famously pledging to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and insisting Mexico would cover its costs. His administration ultimately saw the completion or refurbishment of around 450 miles of the wall during his presidency.
The Gulf has retained its name for over four centuries, a title believed to have originated from the Native American city known as “Mexico.” In the past, attempts to rename the Gulf have surfaced; for example, in 2012, a Mississippi Legislator suggested renaming parts of the Gulf that bordered the state’s beaches as “Gulf of America,” which he later claimed was intended as a joke. This bill was subsequently referred to a committee and never advanced.
The idea of renaming bodies of water is not new, and there are many other international disputes regarding geographical names. An ongoing debate exists over the naming of the Sea of Japan, with South Korea contending that the current designation became prevalent only during Japanese colonization. At a 2020 International Hydrographic Organization meeting, an agreement was reached to replace names with numerical codes and create new digital geographic standards.
Similarly, although the Persian Gulf has been identified by that name since the 16th century, various Middle Eastern nations often refer to it differently. At one point, the Iranian government even threatened legal action against Google due to its decision to omit the body of water’s name from its maps.
Additionally, disputes arise over other waterways. Americans refer to the river acting as a border between Texas and certain Mexican states as the Rio Grande, while in Mexico, it is known as the Rio Bravo.
This narrative has been corrected to clarify that Google Maps does display the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico for users in Mexico, as opposed to Gulf of America.