Wait, can he actually do that? That was the collective gasp across the internet when Executive Order 14172 dropped. On his very first day back in the Oval Office—January 20, 2025—Donald Trump signed a paper titled "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness." It didn't just target the usual political statues. It went big. It went for the water.
Specifically, it ordered the U.S. government to stop saying "Gulf of Mexico" and start saying "Gulf of America."
Kinda wild, right? You’ve probably seen the headlines or noticed your Google Maps acting a little glitchy lately. But the reality of whether a U.S. President can simply "delete" a name that’s been on maps since the 1500s is way messier than a single signature on a desk. Honestly, it’s a mix of absolute federal power and total international "ignore" mode.
Can Donald Trump Rename the Gulf of Mexico? The Legal Reality
Basically, yes and no.
Inside the United States, the President has a massive amount of sway over what federal employees call things. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is the body that usually handles this stuff. They were created way back in 1890 because, frankly, people couldn't agree on how to spell anything.
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Usually, the BGN is super slow. They hate changing names unless there's a "compelling reason." In 2006, they actually laughed off a proposal to change the Gulf's name. But when an Executive Order comes down citing 43 U.S.C. §§364-364f, the Board basically has to jump.
By February 7, 2025, the Secretary of the Interior issued S.O. 3423. This forced the official database—the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)—to swap the labels. So, if you’re a scientist at NOAA or a clerk at the Department of the Interior, you’re legally required to use "Gulf of America" in your reports. If you don't, you're technically violating a federal directive.
But here is the catch.
That power stops exactly 12 nautical miles off the coast, or at the very most, at the edge of the U.S. Continental Shelf. Trump’s order specifically defines the "Gulf of America" as the area bounded by Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
The rest of the world? They aren't following along.
Why Mexico and the World Aren't Changing Their Maps
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, didn't take the news sitting down. She actually joked that maybe Mexico should start calling the United States "Mexican America" based on 17th-century maps.
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is the "referee" for sea names. They’ve recognized the Gulf of Mexico for decades. For them to change a name, there usually needs to be a consensus. Since Mexico and Cuba also border these waters, and they definitely didn't sign off on the rebrand, the IHO is sticking with the status quo.
It’s a bit like the "Sea of Japan" vs. "East Sea" argument between Japan and South Korea. One country calls it X, the other calls it Y, and the rest of the world just picks a side or uses both.
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The Google Maps Confusion
If you opened your phone in February 2025, you might have seen "Gulf of America." If your cousin in Mexico City opened theirs, they saw "Golfo de México."
Big tech companies like Google and Apple are in a tough spot. They want to stay on the good side of the U.S. government, but they also can't just ignore international geography. So, they did what they always do with disputed territories: they localized it.
- U.S. Users: Usually see "Gulf of America" or "Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico)."
- International Users: Almost exclusively see the traditional name.
- Media: The Associated Press (AP) and most major news outlets have actually refused to use the new name, arguing it’s a political label rather than a geographic fact.
The White House actually got so annoyed with this that they reportedly stopped inviting certain reporters to events if their outlets wouldn't use the new "American" name. It's a branding war, pure and simple.
Is This Permanent?
Probably not.
Geographic names changed by Executive Order are only as stable as the person sitting in the chair. A future president could—and likely would—sign a new order on day one to flip it back. We saw this with Denali. Trump’s same 2025 order tried to change the name of North America’s tallest peak back to Mount McKinley after Obama had officially recognized the indigenous name "Denali" in 2015.
It creates a ton of paperwork for federal bureaucrats. Think about it. Every single chart, every maritime contract, and every educational pamphlet printed by the government has to be updated. It’s expensive. It’s confusing. And for most people living on the coast, they’re still just going to call it "the Gulf."
What This Means for You
If you're a boater, a student, or just someone who looks at maps, here’s the bottom line:
- Federal Documents: Expect to see "Gulf of America" on any official U.S. government website or map.
- Travel & International Trade: If you're shipping goods to Mexico or flying over international waters, the rest of the world still uses "Gulf of Mexico."
- Schooling: Most textbooks won't change overnight. Digital versions might update, but the historical name remains the standard in academia.
The whole "Can Donald Trump rename the Gulf of Mexico" saga is more about a statement of sovereignty and national identity than it is about actual cartography. It’s a move designed to signal "America First," even in the water.
Moving Forward
If you need to use the "correct" name for a legal document involving the U.S. government, use Gulf of America. If you’re writing a travel blog, talking to a scientist, or traveling abroad, Gulf of Mexico remains the name recognized by 95% of the planet. Keep an eye on the U.S. Board on Geographic Names website for the most recent updates to the GNIS database, as that is the ultimate source of truth for federal nomenclature.