New York: President Donald Trump signed an executive order to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on Sunday. He also announced to celebrate February 9 as the “Gulf of America Day”. Interestingly, he signed the order signed aboard US Air Force 1 aircraft while flying over renamed water body or the Gulf Of America.
🔊”Air Force One is currently in international waters, the first time in history flying over the recently renamed Gulf of America.” 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/XHXXrvtYzf
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 9, 2025
This comes at a time when tensions between the Trump administration and neighbouring Mexico escalated following his threat to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican imports. But he later halted the move following Mexico’s agreement to deploy 10,000 of its National Guard troops on the border.
The renaming came as part of an executive order named “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.” The order directed the US secretary of the interior to formalise the change of name within 30 days. According to the order as available on the website of the White House, the renamed Gulf covers the “US Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the State of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba.”
🇺🇸 Gulf of America 🇺🇸 https://t.co/7ztxK7kxlc
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 9, 2025
Reports claimed that Trump took this decision of renaming as “‘the area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico has long been an integral asset to” the once burgeoning Nation and “has remained an indelible part of America.”
HAPPY GULF OF AMERICA DAY! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/hFGMBRKh4S
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 9, 2025
“As my administration restores American pride in the history of American greatness, it is fitting and appropriate for our great Nation to come together and commemorate this momentous occasion and the renaming of the Gulf of America,” said Trump, as quoted by Fox5 DC.
When did the name Gulf of Mexico came into existence?
The body of water now called the Gulf of America was known as the “Mexican Bay” (Seno Mexicano) until the early 1800s. The name “Gulf of Mexico” was coined by Spanish explorers. They named it after Mexico because of its long coastline, according to historical records.
Will Google Maps change the name?
Google will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in its Google Maps app, the company had said previously. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had written a letter to Google asking the firm to reconsider its decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico. It will only appear on Google Maps with the new name for people based in the US – elsewhere in the world it will retain its current name, which has been used for hundreds of years, reported the BBC. Earlier, Google had mentioned in a social media post that “when official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local nam.” “Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names. That applies here too,” the company had stated.
