On Monday, shortly after his inauguration, President Donald Trump initiated an executive order that proposes changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, as well as restoring the original name of Mount McKinley to North America’s highest peak, Denali. This order reflects Trump’s intentions to honor the name of former President William McKinley while addressing geographic designations.
The Gulf of Mexico, which has been known by that name for over four centuries, is bordered by both the United States and Mexico. Trump’s executive directive only holds significance within U.S. borders and does not compel recognition from Mexico or other nations or international organizations. Due to its long-standing name, it is expected that various news outlets will refer to the Gulf of Mexico while acknowledging Trump’s newly proposed name.
To maintain clarity for global audiences, organizations such as the Associated Press have stated that while they will refer to the Gulf of Mexico, they will also acknowledge the title Gulf of America in their writings. They will use language to describe the new designation accurately across multiple platforms, indicating that “Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America,” but that “other countries and international institutions continue to use the name the Gulf of Mexico.” For the time being, maps and graphical representations will retain the established name of Gulf of Mexico.
Additionally, in accordance with AP Stylebook, it is permissible to use the terms Gulf or Gulf Coast when discussing the waters adjacent to the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. While there are instances where multiple names exist for the same location—such as the Gulf of California also being known as the Sea of Cortez—this rebranding effort by Trump is a unique case focused solely on U.S. geography.
In another notable decision, Trump signed an order to restore the name of Denali back to Mount McKinley, a change from former President Barack Obama’s 2015 designation that was meant to honor the preferences of local Alaska Native populations. Trump’s intention is to revive the name of the late President McKinley. The AP has stated that it will adopt the name Mount McKinley, given the mountain is located entirely within U.S. territory and the President has the authority to modify federal geographic names.
The Associated Press will revise its style guide to integrate these changes and continue to review its policies regarding naming conventions to ensure they reflect general usage. Overall, the agency strives to provide clarity in its reporting while navigating the complex dynamics of geographic naming in a global context.
