Gulf of Mexico naming controversy

{{Short description|US geographic naming controversy since 2025}}

{{For|the Russian waters formerly known as the Gulf of America|Nakhodka Bay}}

File:Golf von Mexiko NASA World Wind Globe.jpg

The name of the Gulf of Mexico became a subject of dispute in the United States starting in 2025.

The gulf has been known as the Gulf of Mexico since the 1550s,{{cite journal |last=Galtsoff |first=Paul Simon |date=1954 |title=Historical sketch of the explorations in the Gulf of Mexico |url=https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-content/fish-bull/fb55.2.pdf#page=15 |journal=Fishery Bulletin |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |volume=55 |issue=2 |page=15}} having derived its name from Mexica, the Nahuatl term for the Aztecs.{{Cite news |last=Dvorak |first=Petula |date=January 15, 2025 |title=The Gulf of Mexico's long history of colonization and varying names |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2025/01/13/gulf-of-mexico-name-history-colonization-explained/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250113161322/https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2025/01/13/gulf-of-mexico-name-history-colonization-explained/ |archive-date=January 13, 2025 |access-date=January 20, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} The name soon became internationally recognized and in use by bodies such as the International Hydrographic Organization.

On January 7, 2025, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump announced that he intended to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America".{{Cite web |last=Chambers |first=Francesca |title=Gulf of America? Trump says he'll change name of 'Gulf of Mexico' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/01/07/trump-rename-gulf-of-mexico-america/77510294007/ |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} On January 20, 2025, the day of his inauguration, President Trump signed Executive Order 14172, directing U.S. federal agencies to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America". As an executive order, only the U.S. executive branch is required to use this nomenclature. {{As of|February 2025}}, polling shows the majority of Americans oppose this change.{{cite news |last=Wolf |first=Zachary B. |title=Americans voted for Trump. Did they vote for this? |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/13/politics/americans-support-for-trump-what-matters/index.html |access-date=April 1, 2025 |work=CNN Politics |date=February 13, 2025 |language=en-US |archive-date=March 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318115401/https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/13/politics/americans-support-for-trump-what-matters/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Franklin |first=Charles |date=February 12, 2025 |title=New Marquette Law School Poll national survey finds public strongly favors some Trump policies, strongly opposes others |url=https://law.marquette.edu/poll/2025/02/12/new-marquette-law-school-poll-national-survey-finds-public-strongly-favors-some-trump-policies-strongly-opposes-others/ |type=Poll release |language=en-US |location=Milwaukee |publisher=Marquette University Law School |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212182502/https://law.marquette.edu/poll/2025/02/12/new-marquette-law-school-poll-national-survey-finds-public-strongly-favors-some-trump-policies-strongly-opposes-others/ |archive-date=February 12, 2025 |access-date=April 1, 2025 |quote=Renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America is opposed by 71% and favored by 29%.}}{{cite news|title=Trump holds 52 percent approval rating after first month in office|first=Julia|last=Mueller|work=The Hill|location=Washington, D.C.|date=February 24, 2025|accessdate=February 24, 2025|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5161231-trump-holds-52-percent-approval-rating-after-first-month-in-office/}}

Background

File:Waldseemuller map closeup with America.jpg, showing the name "America", specifically referring to what is now known as South America. Later, in 1538, Gerardus Mercator expanded the use of the term America to designate the entire continent in his maps.{{Cite book|title=Cosmography in the Age of Discovery and the Scientific Revolution|last=Barrado Navascués|first=David|year=2023|page=80}}]]

Amerigo Vespucci, along with other explorers, is credited with the first European exploration of the Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatán Channel, between 1497 and 1498. He navigated the Straits of Florida, and continued northward up to Chesapeake Bay before returning to Spain. It has been disputed, however, that the voyage actually took place.{{cite encyclopedia |author= |date=n.d. |title=Amerigo Vespucci |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Amerigo-Vespucci |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=March 22, 2025 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206125520/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Amerigo-Vespucci |url-status=live }}{{cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1790319|title=The "First" Voyage of Amerigo Vespucci in 1497-8|last=Davies|first=A.|journal=The Geographical Journal|volume=118|issue=3|year=1952|pages=331–337|doi=10.2307/1790319 |jstor=1790319 |archive-date=February 9, 2023|access-date=March 22, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209210705/https://www.jstor.org/stable/1790319|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}

For centuries, the Gulf of Mexico has been recognized by that name—derived from the term Mexica (the Nahuatl name for the Aztecs{{cite news |title=Why are the Aztecs called Mexicas? |trans-title=Why are the Aztecs called Mexicas? |url=https://mexicanroutes.com/why-are-aztecs-called-mexicas/ |publisher=Mexican Routes |date=November 23, 2023 |accessdate=November 23, 2023 |language=English |archive-date=March 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316121352/https://mexicanroutes.com/why-are-aztecs-called-mexicas/ |url-status=live }}). It began to be used on early European maps in 1550,{{cite book |last=Sledge |first=John S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SWWzDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT25 |title=The Gulf of Mexico: A Maritime History |date=November 13, 2019 |publisher=University of South Carolina Press |isbn=978-1-6433-6015-7 |location=Columbia, South Carolina |page=25 |via=Google Books}}{{cite news |last=Wagner |first=James |date=January 28, 2025 |title='The Gulf of America'? Here's What Mexicans and Cubans Think. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/world/americas/gulf-mexico-name-change.html |accessdate=January 28, 2025 |work=The New York Times |location=New York City |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250128151610/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/world/americas/gulf-mexico-name-change.html |url-status=live }} and the name soon became established in international cartography and legal usage by bodies such as the International Hydrographic Organization.{{cite news |last1=Bush |first1=Aidan |last2=Clifton |first2=Libby |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Along Gulf Coast, Donald Trump's plan for 'Gulf of America' touches residents' pride; some wonder what difference will it make |url=https://www.wuft.org/fresh-take-florida/2025-01-22/along-gulf-coast-trumps-plan-for-gulf-of-america-touches-residents-pride |accessdate=January 25, 2025 |publisher=WUFT-FM |location=Gainesville, Florida |agency=Fresh Take Florida |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123134557/https://www.wuft.org/fresh-take-florida/2025-01-22/along-gulf-coast-trumps-plan-for-gulf-of-america-touches-residents-pride |url-status=live }}{{cite book |url=https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/standards/s-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf |title=Limits of Oceans and Seas |date=1953 |publisher=International Hydrographic Organization |edition=3rd |page=14 |access-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008191433/http://www.iho.int/iho_pubs/standard/S-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf |archive-date=October 8, 2011}}

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) received a proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in 2006, and the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) unanimously decided not to approve it.{{Cite web |last=Chiaramonte |first=Perry |date=March 20, 2025 |title=Trump's Idea for 'Gulf of America' Was Set in Motion Nearly Two Decades Ago, Under a Different President |url=https://www.nysun.com/article/trumps-idea-for-gulf-of-america-was-set-in-motion-nearly-two-decades-ago-under-a-different-president |url-status=live |access-date=March 21, 2025 |website=The New York Sun |archive-date=March 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321050004/https://www.nysun.com/article/trumps-idea-for-gulf-of-america-was-set-in-motion-nearly-two-decades-ago-under-a-different-president }}{{Cite web |last=Levi that |first=Dave |date=March 19, 2025 |title=Inside the U.S. Geological Survey's 'Gulf of America' Freak-Out |url=https://www.notus.org/policy/gulf-of-america-documents-geological-survey |access-date=March 21, 2025 |website=NOTUS (Allbritton Journalism Institute)}} Renaming the waters was the humorous premise of a 2010 piece by American comedian Stephen Colbert, who proposed creation of a "Gulf of America fund" to pay for the cleanup necessary following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, stating: "I don't think we can call it the Gulf of Mexico anymore. We broke it, we bought it."{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Can Trump really rename the Gulf of Mexico? Comedian's old suggestion takes on new life |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-really-rename-gulf-mexico-004214026.html |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}

Steve Holland, a Democratic state representative from Mississippi, jokingly introduced a 2012 bill proposing the name change. In a radio interview at the time, he explained that the Mississippi GOP appeared dedicated to pushing anything Mexican out of the state, so renaming the Gulf would help with that cause. "This new majority goes against a lot of the tenets of New Testament Christianity that I've based 29 years of legislation on," Holland told NPR. "They want to kick immigrants out of the state, they want to drug-test Medicaid people, they want to get rid of anything that's not 'America'. So I just thought it would be in keeping to introduce a bill to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. It fits right in with what the majority thinking apparently is now."{{Cite web|date=February 9, 2012|title=Call It 'Gulf Of America,' Not Gulf Of Mexico, Lawmaker Says In Bit Of Satire|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/02/09/146643464/call-it-gulf-of-america-not-gulf-of-mexico-mississippi-lawmaker-says|access-date=February 15, 2025|website=NPR|language=en-US|archive-date=February 15, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215014114/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/02/09/146643464/call-it-gulf-of-america-not-gulf-of-mexico-mississippi-lawmaker-says|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Before Trump proposed Gulf of Mexico renaming, a Democrat did the same |url=https://www.newsweek.com/trump-gulf-mexico-renaming-mississippi-democrat-idea-2011201 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=February 17, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217165024/https://www.newsweek.com/trump-gulf-mexico-renaming-mississippi-democrat-idea-2011201 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=HOUSE BILL NO. 150 |url=http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2012/pdf/HB/0100-0199/HB0150IN.pdf |accessdate=January 28, 2014 |publisher=Mississippi House of Representatives |archive-date=April 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422141155/http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2012/pdf/HB/0100-0199/HB0150IN.pdf |url-status=live }}

The bill was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on January 9, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Greene |first=Marjorie Taylor |date=January 9, 2025 |title=H.R.276 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Gulf of America Act of 2025 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/276 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=www.congress.gov}} In a January 15-16 poll of US registered voters, 72% opposed the renaming while 28% supported it.{{Cite web |last=Prater |first=Nia |date=February 12, 2025 |title=Almost Nobody Wants to Call It the 'Gulf of America' |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-gulf-of-mexico-gulf-of-america.html |access-date=February 13, 2025 |website=Intelligencer |language=en |archive-date=February 12, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212224223/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-gulf-of-mexico-gulf-of-america.html |url-status=live }} The poll by Harvard CAPS and The Harris Poll surveyed 2,650 American registered voters. On May 8, the House narrowly approved the bill, but it is uncertain whether the Senate will take action.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-vote-bill-codifying-trump-gulf-america-mexico-executive-order-rcna205501 |title=House votes to codify Trump's Gulf of America executive order |access-date=May 22, 2025|work=NBC |last1=Egwuonwu |first1=Nnamdi |last2=Stewart |first2=Kyle |last3=Marquez |first3=Alexandra |date=May 8, 2025 }}

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14172 directing the interior secretary to adopt the name Gulf of America, specifying an area of the U.S. continental shelf "extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba."{{Cite web |last=Trump |first=Donald J. |author-link=Donald Trump |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-names-that-honor-american-greatness/ |access-date=January 21, 2025 |website=Whitehouse.gov |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121022236/https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-names-that-honor-american-greatness/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Rohrlich |first=Justin |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Trump to make good on Gulf of America promise with bonkers executive order |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-gulf-of-america-executive-order-b2682937.html |access-date=January 21, 2025 |website=The Independent}}{{Cite news |last=Rogero |first=Tiago |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Can Trump really rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/20/trump-gulf-mexico-executive-order |access-date=January 21, 2025 |work=The Guardian}} The U.S. Interior Department confirmed that US federal agencies would use the name Gulf of America from January 24.{{cite news |last=Frazin |first=Rachel |date=January 24, 2025 |title=Feds implement 'Gulf of America,' 'Mount McKinley' name changes |url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5105335-gulf-of-america-mount-mckinley-name-changes/ |accessdate=January 24, 2025 |work=The Hill |location=Washington, D.C. |archive-date=February 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250209123310/https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5105335-gulf-of-america-mount-mckinley-name-changes/ |url-status=live }} As an executive order, this does not compel the use of the new name by non-federal agencies, private companies, or foreign entities.{{cite web |date=January 27, 2025 |title=Trump Administration Actions: Geographic Naming |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12881 |access-date=January 30, 2025 |publisher=Congressional Research Service |version=version 4, updated |archive-date=February 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250203152456/https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12881 |url-status=live }} Trump declared February 9, 2025, to be "Gulf of America Day".{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2025 |title=Gulf of America Day, 2025 |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/gulf-of-america-day-2025/ |access-date=February 13, 2025 |website=The White House |language=en-US |archive-date=February 12, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212233909/https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/gulf-of-america-day-2025/ |url-status=live }}

Reactions to declaration

= In the United States =

Reactions among U.S. political figures and agencies have been mixed. Proponents of the renaming argue that it reinforces an "America First" agenda and reflects a renewed emphasis on national heritage.{{cite web |author=NBC Chicago Staff |title=Why did Trump change the name of the Gulf of Mexico? Here's what he's said |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/why-did-trump-change-the-name-of-the-gulf-of-mexico/3672866/ |website=NBC Chicago |publisher=NBCUniversal Media |access-date=13 March 2025 |date=12 February 2025 |archive-date=March 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306231045/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/why-did-trump-change-the-name-of-the-gulf-of-mexico/3672866/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Interior Department Advances Restoration of Historic Names Honoring American Greatness |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior |url=https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-advances-restoration-historic-names-honoring-american-greatness |website=www.doi.gov |access-date=13 March 2025 |language=en |date=24 January 2025 |archive-date=January 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124223522/https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-advances-restoration-historic-names-honoring-american-greatness |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=McKinnon |first1=Innisfree |author2=The Conversation US |title=Can Trump Just Order New Names for Denali and the Gulf of Mexico? |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-trumps-order-to-rename-gulf-of-mexico-and-denali-works/ |website=Scientific American |access-date=13 March 2025 |language=en |archive-date=February 16, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216090432/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-trumps-order-to-rename-gulf-of-mexico-and-denali-works/ |url-status=live }} Several state officials from Gulf Coast states have at times supported the change in official documents.{{Cite news |last=Yang |first=Maya |date=January 22, 2025 |title=US Coast Guard and Florida start using Gulf of America for Gulf of Mexico |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/22/gulf-america-florida-coast-guard |access-date=February 13, 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |last=Babbar |first=Tanya |title=Gov. Greg Abbott suggests 'Gulf of Texas' following Trump's name change idea |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/gulf-of-texas-greg-abbott-donald-trump-20023091.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211100536/http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/gulf-of-texas-greg-abbott-donald-trump-20023091.php |archive-date=February 11, 2025 |access-date=February 13, 2025 |work=Houston Chronicle |language=en |url-status=live }}

A February 2025 poll by Marquette University found that among 1,018 respondents nationwide, 71% opposed the Gulf of America renaming and 29% supported the name change.{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2022 |title=New Marquette Law School Poll national survey finds public strongly favors some Trump policies, strongly opposes others – Marquette Law School Poll |url=https://law.marquette.edu/poll/2025/02/12/new-marquette-law-school-poll-national-survey-finds-public-strongly-favors-some-trump-policies-strongly-opposes-others/ |access-date=February 13, 2025 |language=en-US |archive-date=February 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214132948/https://law.marquette.edu/poll/2025/02/12/new-marquette-law-school-poll-national-survey-finds-public-strongly-favors-some-trump-policies-strongly-opposes-others/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-gulf-of-mexico-gulf-of-america.html|title=Almost Nobody Wants to Call It the 'Gulf of America'|last=Prater|first=Nia|work=New York Intelligencer|date=February 12, 2025 |access-date=7 March 2025|archive-date=February 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213183855/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-gulf-of-mexico-gulf-of-america.html|url-status=live}} In a February 2025 poll of 871 registered voters in Florida who were active by the University of North Florida found that 58% of overall respondents opposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, 31% supported it, 10% said they were not sure and 1% refused to answer the question.{{Cite news |last=Perry |first=Mitch |date=February 18, 2025 |title=Poll: Majority of Floridians don't support changing the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America' |url=https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/02/18/poll-majority-of-floridians-dont-support-changing-the-gulf-of-mexico-to-the-gulf-of-america/ |access-date=April 20, 2025 |work=Florida Phoenix |archive-date=April 10, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250410202642/https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/02/18/poll-majority-of-floridians-dont-support-changing-the-gulf-of-mexico-to-the-gulf-of-america/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2025 |title=UNF Poll: Florida voters most concerned about housing and insurance costs: Find Trump, DeSantis moderately favorable |url=https://www.unfporl.org/uploads/1/4/4/5/144559024/unf_porl_-_spring_2025_statewide_press_release.pdf |access-date=April 20, 2025 |website=University of West Florida - Public Opinion Research Lab |archive-date=February 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218173119/https://www.unfporl.org/uploads/1/4/4/5/144559024/unf_porl_-_spring_2025_statewide_press_release.pdf |url-status=live }}

Since February 10, 2025, Google Maps and Google Earth have varied the name displayed for the Gulf based on device location settings.{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2025 |title=Google Maps to rename 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America' for US users |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/google-maps-rename-gulf-mexico-gulf-america-us-users-2025-01-27/ |access-date=January 28, 2025 |website=Reuters}}{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Nico |date=January 27, 2025 |title=How Google Maps Plans to Handle the 'Gulf of America' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/technology/google-maps-gulf-of-america-trump.html |access-date=January 27, 2025 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite press release |title=Gulf of America name change in the U.S. — what you'll see in Maps |date=February 10, 2025 |publisher=Google |url=https://blog.google/products/maps/united-states-geographic-name-change-feb-2025/ |work=The Keyword |accessdate=February 10, 2025}} Apple Maps and Bing Maps have also changed their label for the Gulf.{{Cite news |last=Gurman |first=Mark |date=February 11, 2025 |title=Apple Is Renaming Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America on Maps App |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-11/apple-is-renaming-gulf-of-mexico-to-gulf-of-america-on-maps-app |access-date=February 11, 2025 |work=Bloomberg News |archive-date=February 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214220838/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-11/apple-is-renaming-gulf-of-mexico-to-gulf-of-america-on-maps-app |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last=Rogers |first=Reece |date=February 11, 2025 |title=Here's How All Online Maps Are Handling the 'Gulf of Mexico' Name Change |url=https://www.wired.com/story/online-maps-gulf-of-mexico-name-change/ |accessdate=February 12, 2025 |magazine=Wired |location=San Francisco |archive-date=February 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215190253/https://www.wired.com/story/online-maps-gulf-of-mexico-name-change/ |url-status=live }} MapQuest refused to alter the name, joking that they had lost the ability to update their information when owned by AOL in the 2000s. They also said that they follow the naming conventions from the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).{{cite magazine |last=Rogers |first=Reece |date=February 11, 2025 |title=Here's How All Online Maps Are Handling the 'Gulf of Mexico' Name Change |url=https://www.wired.com/story/online-maps-gulf-of-mexico-name-change/ |accessdate=February 12, 2025 |magazine=Wired |location=San Francisco |archive-date=February 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215190253/https://www.wired.com/story/online-maps-gulf-of-mexico-name-change/ |url-status=live }} Since February 18, 2025, the GNIS has shown the name of the gulf as "Gulf of America".{{cite web|url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names|title=USGS {{!}} Science for a Changing World|website=USGS {{|}} The National Map|accessdate=March 8, 2025|archive-date=August 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825202653/https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names|url-status=live}}

Various bodies and media outlets reacted to the federal action, with most saying that common usage for the gulf would prevail.{{cite web |last1=Barrett |first1=Amanda |date=January 23, 2025 |title=AP style guidance on Gulf of Mexico, Mount McKinley |url=https://www.ap.org/the-definitive-source/announcements/ap-style-guidance-on-gulf-of-mexico-mount-mckinley/ |access-date=January 28, 2025 |publisher=Associated Press |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123194104/https://www.ap.org/the-definitive-source/announcements/ap-style-guidance-on-gulf-of-mexico-mount-mckinley/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Archie |date=January 24, 2025 |title=UK has no plans to recognise Donald Trump's new name for Gulf of Mexico |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/trump-gulf-mexico-america-uk-b2685587.html |access-date=January 26, 2025 |website=The Independent}} Among prominent media outlets, Axios and Fox News adopted the change, with USA Today using both names in tandem.{{cite web |first=Joshua |last=Benton |title=Trump wants news outlets to get on board with 'Gulf of America' — or else. Will they? |url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/02/trump-wants-news-outlets-to-get-on-board-with-gulf-of-america-or-else-will-they/ |website=Nieman Lab |access-date=February 19, 2025 |archive-date=February 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215063607/https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/02/trump-wants-news-outlets-to-get-on-board-with-gulf-of-america-or-else-will-they/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Zehra |first1=Ailia |title=Axios to use 'Gulf of America' in compliance with Trump administration |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5147756-axios-to-use-gulf-of-america-in-compliance-with-trump/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |work=The Hill |date=February 15, 2025 |archive-date=February 19, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219230554/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5147756-axios-to-use-gulf-of-america-in-compliance-with-trump/ |url-status=live }} On February 11, the White House chose to not invite an Associated Press (AP) reporter to an event in the Oval Office over the AP's decision to continue using "Gulf of Mexico," which the AP executive editor Julie Pace condemned as a violation of its First Amendment rights.{{Cite news |date=February 11, 2025 |title=Reporter banned from Oval Office event over editorial decision not to use 'Gulf of America,' AP says |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/gulf-of-mexico-ap-reporter-banned-gulf-of-america-1.7456618 |access-date=February 11, 2025 |work=CBC News}}

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision of the White House, saying:

If we feel there are lies being pushed by outlets in this room, we are going to hold those lies accountable ... And it is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America, and I'm not sure why news outlets don't want to call it that but that is what it is.{{Cite news |last=Mastrangelo |first=Dominick |date=12 February 2025 |title=Leavitt defends banning AP from Oval Office over 'Gulf of America' stance |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5141155-karoline-leavitt-ap-oval-office-gulf-of-america/ |access-date=12 February 2025 |work=The Hill |archive-date=February 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213170917/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5141155-karoline-leavitt-ap-oval-office-gulf-of-america/ |url-status=live }}

On February 14, the White House deputy chief of staff, Taylor Budowich, announced that Associated Press journalists were banned indefinitely from the Oval Office and Air Force One due to their decision to continue using "Gulf of Mexico", with Budowich accusing the Associated Press of "commitment to misinformation" and "irresponsible and dishonest reporting".{{cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Kathryn |title=White House bars Associated Press from spaces like Oval Office and Air Force One |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-bars-associated-press-oval-office-air-force-one/ |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=CBS News |date=February 14, 2025 |archive-date=February 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214213952/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-bars-associated-press-oval-office-air-force-one/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Maya |title=White House bans AP journalists from Oval Office amid continued Gulf dispute |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/14/white-house-ap-ban-oval-office |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=February 14, 2025}} The White House Correspondents Association responded that the White House has "publicly admitted they are restricting access to events to punish a news outlet for not advancing the government's preferred language", and argued that this violated President Trump's "executive order on freedom of speech and ending federal censorship". On February 18, Trump said that the Associated Press would continue to be barred "until such time as they agree that it's the Gulf of America".{{cite news |last1=Pitas |first1=Costas |title=Trump restricts AP access over Gulf of Mexico issue |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-restricts-ap-access-over-gulf-mexico-issue-2025-02-19/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=Reuters |date=February 19, 2025}} On April 8, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that would take effect on April 13 requiring the White House to reinstate Associated Press access.{{cite web |last=Goudsward |first=Andrew |title=Judge lifts Trump restrictions on AP while lawsuit proceeds over 'Gulf of Mexico' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/08/judge-trump-ap-gulf-of-mexico/82998355007/ |date=April 8, 2025 |work=USA Today |access-date=April 8, 2025 |archive-date=April 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408211941/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/08/judge-trump-ap-gulf-of-mexico/82998355007/ |url-status=live }}

On June 16, the Trump Organization announced the launch of a telecommunications company called Trump Mobile. Later that day, the firm removed its cellular coverage map "after sharp-eyed users noticed" that the Gulf of Mexico was shown with that name rather than with Trump's preferred name.{{Cite web |last=Sriram |first=Akash |date=June 17, 2025 |title=Trump Mobile pulls coverage map after ‘Gulf of Mexico’ label sparks chatter online |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/trump-mobile-pulls-coverage-map-after-gulf-mexico-label-sparks-chatter-online-2025-06-17/ |work=Reuters}}

= International response =

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum sarcastically countered President Trump by proposing to rename North America:

Obviously the Gulf of Mexico is recognized by the United Nations... but why don't we call [North America] "Mexican America"? We're going to call it Mexican America....It sounds pretty, no? Isn't it true?{{Cite web |last=Villagran |first=Lauren |title='Mexican America:' Mexico's president offers a new name in response to Donald Trump |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/01/08/mexican-america-mexico-president-offers-name-change/77547713007/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=February 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213161745/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/01/08/mexican-america-mexico-president-offers-name-change/77547713007/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-09 |title=Mexico's president one-ups Trump after he claims he'll rename the Gulf of Mexico |url=https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/mexico-president-claudia-sheinbaum-trump-gulf-of-america-rcna186990 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=MSNBC.com |language=en}}

After Google Maps revised the Gulf's display name, Sheinbaum sued Google, reiterating that United States sovereignty is limited to 12 nautical miles from the coast.{{Cite web |date=February 13, 2025 |title=Mexico could file suit against Google for 'Gulf of Mexico' name change |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-could-file-suit-against-google-gulf-mexico-name-change-president-says-2025-02-13/ |access-date=February 13, 2025 |website=Reuters}}{{cite news|title=Mexico sues Google over changing Gulf of Mexico's name for US users|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=May 9, 2025|accessdate=May 9, 2025|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/09/mexico-google-lawsuit-gulf-of-mexico}}

The United Kingdom declined to recognize any different name for the Gulf of Mexico, based on common usage across the English-speaking world.