During a January 7 press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump defended the decision, stating, “We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory, the Gulf of America.”
He also criticized Mexico for failing to prevent illegal immigration and drugs coming into the United States.
Jurisdiction and Practical Implications
Under U.S. law, presidents can rename geographic regions and features through executive orders, although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names typically holds jurisdiction over such matters. Whether this change will be universally adopted or face legal challenges remains to be seen.
The Gulf of Mexico is an essential body of water in North America, spanning 600,000 square miles and ranking as the world’s ninth-largest body of water.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, half of the U.S.’s petroleum refining and natural gas processing capacity is located along the Gulf’s shores.
