So, you’re scrolling through a map or catching the news and suddenly someone mentions the "Gulf of America." You blink. You look again. You’re thinking, Wait, did I miss something? When did Donald Trump change the Gulf of Mexico’s name? Honestly, it sounds like one of those internet rumors that starts on a message board and spirals out of control, but this one is actually based in a very real, very recent Executive Order.
On January 20, 2025—literally his first day back in the Oval Office—Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14172, titled "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness." This wasn't just a casual suggestion made during a rally. It was a formal directive that ordered federal agencies to start calling the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.
The Day the Name Changed
It happened fast. Like, inauguration-day fast. While the rest of the country was watching the parade or arguing about speech transcripts, the pens were moving. Trump signaled his intent during his inaugural address, stating that the U.S. would reclaim its place as the "most respected nation on Earth." By that evening, the order was live.
The directive specifically told the Secretary of the Interior—at the time, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum had been nominated for the role—to take "all appropriate actions" to rename the U.S. Continental Shelf area. Essentially, the water bordering Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida was now, in the eyes of the U.S. federal government, the Gulf of America.
Why Change a Name After 500 Years?
You’ve gotta wonder why anyone would bother. The name "Gulf of Mexico" has been the standard since the 1500s. It’s on every globe, in every textbook, and used by every ship captain in the world.
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The administration’s logic was pretty straightforward: "America First." Trump argued that since the U.S. derives massive economic value from these waters—think oil, gas, and massive shipping lanes—the name should reflect American ownership and pride. He famously quipped that we "broke it, we bought it," referring to the massive investments and industrial presence the U.S. has in the region.
The Symbolic Power Move
Kinda weirdly, this wasn't the first time the idea had surfaced. Back in 2012, a Mississippi State Representative named Steve Holland introduced a bill to change the name as a joke, mockingly suggesting it would fit the GOP’s "anti-Mexico" stance at the time. Fast forward over a decade, and the joke became federal policy.
Did the Name Actually Stick?
This is where it gets complicated. A U.S. President can tell the Department of the Interior what to do, but they can't exactly tell the rest of the planet how to speak.
Federal Agencies: Within days, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) had to update the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). If you go to a federal website today, you’ll see "Gulf of America" as the official designation.
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Tech Giants: This was the wild part. Google Maps and Apple Maps actually started showing different names depending on where you are. If you’re searching from Dallas, it might say "Gulf of America." If you’re searching from Mexico City, it definitely still says "Golfo de México." It’s basically digital borders in action.
The International Reaction: Mexico wasn't thrilled. President Claudia Sheinbaum basically laughed it off, sarcastically suggesting she might rename the United States "Mexican America" in response. Internationally, the UN and the International Hydrographic Organization haven't changed a thing. To them, it’s still the Gulf of Mexico.
The Mount McKinley Connection
The Gulf wasn't the only thing on the list that day. The same Executive Order flipped the name of North America’s highest peak. For years, people argued over Denali vs. Mount McKinley. Obama officially changed it to Denali in 2015 to honor Indigenous heritage. Trump flipped it back to Mount McKinley on that same January day in 2025.
It was a busy afternoon for the cartographers, to say the least.
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Gulf of America Day
To hammer the point home, Trump proclaimed February 9, 2025, as the first "Gulf of America Day." He actually signed the proclamation while flying over the Gulf on Air Force One. He was on his way to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX. It was a classic Trump branding moment—high visibility, high controversy, and a clear message that the old naming conventions were out the window.
What This Means for You
Unless you work for the federal government or write official nautical charts, you probably don't have to call it anything different. But if you’re applying for federal grants, working on a government contract, or looking at a new USGS map, you're going to see the change.
Basically, we now live in a world where a body of water has two "official" names depending on who you ask.
How to Navigate the Change
- Check Your Source: If you see "Gulf of America" in a report, it’s likely coming from a U.S. federal agency or a conservative-leaning news outlet like Fox News or Axios, both of which adopted the terminology.
- International Travel: If you’re booking a flight to Cancun or shipping goods to Veracruz, keep using "Gulf of Mexico." Outside of U.S. federal jurisdiction, the new name has zero legal standing.
- Update Your Materials: If you run a business that deals with the Department of the Interior or the Maritime Administration, you’ll want to update your documentation to reflect the name used in Executive Order 14172 to avoid any bureaucratic hiccups.
The naming dispute isn't going away anytime soon. It’s become a litmus test for political leanings. One side sees it as a restoration of national pride; the other sees it as an unnecessary diplomatic headache. Either way, the maps have been redrawn, at least in Washington.
Keep an eye on official NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) bulletins if you spend time on the water. They are the ones handling the transition for mariners, and while the name on the chart might change, the currents and the fish definitely don't care what we call them.