Trump Says He Nearly Renamed Gulf Of Mexico 'Gulf Of Trump' Before Dropping Idea

Last Updated:April 12, 2026, 23:13 IST

Trump said the thought came up during discussions around his wider push to rename the water body, which he has already officially rebranded as the “Gulf of America”.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he once considered renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of Trump" before deciding against it, saying the idea would likely not have worked well.

In a phone interview with Fox News, Trump said the thought came up during discussions around his wider push to rename the water body, which he has already officially rebranded as the “Gulf of America" under an executive order signed earlier in his second term.

“I was thinking about calling it the Gulf of Trump, and I decided not to do it. I think that one maybe wouldn’t have worked out. I’m not so sure. But I was thinking it’s gonna be called the Gulf of Trump," Trump said.

He added, “I think it may have been a wise decision; I believe it wouldn’t have worked out."

ALSO READ: What’s In A Name: Google Maps Shows ‘Gulf of Mexico’ As ‘Gulf Of America’ For US Users

Trump had formally renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America" through Executive Order 14172, signed on January 20, 2025, the day of his inauguration. The order, part of his “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness" initiative, directed the Interior Secretary to implement the change across federal usage.

Trump’s executive order had noted that 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".

The US Department of the Interior had also confirmed that agencies would adopt the new name, with the US Geological Survey updating its records shortly after. The administration also marked February 9 as “Gulf of America Day," following a presidential proclamation issued during Trump’s flight over the region.

The move drew international criticism, particularly from Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum responded by referencing historical maps and argued that the Gulf of Mexico name has been in use for centuries and is widely recognised globally.

News world Trump Says He Nearly Renamed Gulf Of Mexico 'Gulf Of Trump' Before Dropping Idea

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