Just days after President-elect Donald Trump suggested plans to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., introduced legislation Wednesday that would make the change official, marking a swift move from presidential proposal to congressional action.
Trump announced the previously undisclosed plan during a freewheeling news conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Tuesday. “We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” he said. “Gulf of America — what a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate.”
While Trump did not detail how he intended to effect the change, he emphasized his seriousness about the proposal. “We’re going to change it,” he said. “We do most of the work there … and it’s ours.”
Greene’s bill, which has already attracted 14 Republican cosponsors, would direct the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to rename all federal documents and maps within 180 days of the law’s enactment.
“The American people are footing the bill to protect and secure the maritime waterways for commerce to be conducted. Our U.S. armed forces protect the area from any military threats from foreign countries. It’s our gulf,” Greene said in a written statement. “The rightful name is the Gulf of America and it’s what the entire world should refer to it as.”
The proposal drew swift international reaction. On Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded with pointed sarcasm, opening her news conference in Mexico City with a 17th Century map of North and South America as a backdrop. The 1607 map labeled North America, including the area that would become the United States, as “America Mexicana.”
“Obviously the Gulf of Mexico is recognized by the United Nations, but why don’t we call this ‘Mexican America’?” Sheinbaum said, gesturing toward an area on the map roughly corresponding to Texas and Oklahoma.
Greene countered in her statement, citing security concerns: “Mexican cartels currently use the Gulf of Mexico to traffic humans, drugs, weapons, and God knows what else while the Mexican government allows them to do it.”
There is precedent for presidential geographic name changes. In 2015, President Barack Obama signed an executive order changing Mount McKinley’s name to Denali, its original Native American name. However, renaming an international body of water presents more complex challenges.
The Persian Gulf offers a relevant example of competing names for international waters. While most nations use “Persian Gulf,” Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Navy refer to it as the “Arabian Gulf,” though the U.S. Board of Geographic Names mandates “Persian Gulf” in all other federal contexts.
Greene’s bill has gained support from representatives across multiple states, including Reps. Mary Miller (R-Ill.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Mike Collins (R-Ga.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), Greg Steube (R-Fla.), Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Michael Rulli (R-Ohio), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), and Brandon Gill (R-Texas).
“This is a piece of day one legislation that can easily be awaiting President Trump’s signature the moment he takes his oath of office,” Greene added in her statement urging swift passage of the bill.
