Did Trump almost rename the Gulf of Mexico 'Gulf of Trump'? Here's the truth

US President Donald Trump said he once thought about calling the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of Trump” but ultimately decided against it, according to remarks aired in a Fox News interview on April 12. The comments came after Trump’s administration had already made the Gulf of America name change official through an executive order signed at the start of his second term.

Referring to the existing renaming, Trump said, “Now, it's called the Gulf of America, because of me.”

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He also said he briefly entertained a more personal alternative before abandoning it, adding, “You know, that's not going to play too well.” He raised the idea while discussing why the body of water should still be called the Gulf of Mexico.

An old habit

Trump’s remarks also revived attention on his broader habit of pushing for names that reflect his own brand. NDTV reported that he has, on several occasions, suggested renaming public spaces and institutions after himself and that some of those ideas were later implemented. The Kennedy Center and the US Institute of Peace are examples of changes that were eventually adopted.

As part of his "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness" effort, Trump already officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico through Executive Order 14172, which was signed on January 20, 2025, the day of his inauguration. The new language was adopted across all government systems after the decree instructed federal agencies to do so.

A bone of contention

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".

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President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico retaliated against the action, claiming that the "Gulf of Mexico" moniker has been in use for centuries and is widely recognised.