Tue Jan 21 18:08:23 UTC 2025: ## Trump Orders Rename of Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America,” Faces International Pushback
**Washington D.C.** – President Trump issued an executive order on Monday mandating the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” sparking immediate international controversy. The order directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to update all federal records within 30 days, replacing all instances of “Gulf of Mexico” with the new designation.
While the President has the authority to change geographical names within the United States, the order’s impact beyond U.S. borders remains uncertain. John Nyberg, director of the International Hydrographic Organization, confirmed there’s no formal international agreement governing the naming of maritime areas. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum swiftly rejected the change, stating, “For us and for the whole world it is still the Gulf of Mexico.”
The move highlights the complexities of international naming conventions. Other bodies of water, including the Persian/Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Japan/East Sea, are subject to similar disputes, underscoring the potential for significant international friction stemming from such unilateral actions. The U.S. Navy’s past use of “Arabian Gulf” to appease Saudi Arabia further demonstrates the political sensitivities involved in such designations. The President’s decision is likely to face significant resistance from international communities and may prove largely symbolic in its effect on global usage.
First Piper 