One of the more controversial claims Donald Trump made during his campaign was that he was going to change the Gulf of Mexico’s name to the Gulf of America. This claim became viral and resulted in large public outcry over something that seemed so miniscule compared to the other issues that should be addressed within the government. On Feb. 9, 2025, the world woke up to find that the Gulf of Mexico had been changed to the Gulf of America on Google Maps along with other navigational apps and websites.
Senior Crystal Fwamini said, “Initially I was not really shocked, more disappointed. It was unnecessary.”
The Gulf of Mexico is an oceanic basin surrounded by mostly North American countries, as well as the northern border of South America. Its name was officially recognized by the International Hydrographic Organization, whose mission is to standardize names of oceanic bodies for better navigation tactics.
As of now, Mexico is threatening to sue the United States over the ridiculous name change. Mexican officials argue that the name change presents an inaccurate label on the entire gulf, and if the USA wanted it changed to the Gulf of America they should have only renamed the part of the gulf that goes along the coastline of the USA. Renaming the gulf disregards the many countries that border the body of water as well as the island nations in its vicinity.
While many argue that it is a fair name because the gulf borders North, Central, and South America, there are also many that think that this decision is not that big of a deal. There are also many that would not be as bothered by the change if it wasn’t one of the first things President Trump focused on after his inauguration.
“There are more important things that need to be addressed, such as the fires in California and the people still affected by Hurricane Helene,” said Fwamini.
