United States President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a formal proclamation renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" while aboard Air Force One en route to New Orleans for Super Bowl 59.
The proclamation also declared 9 February as the first-ever "Gulf of America Day," marking what the President described as a restoration of "American pride and greatness."
The move follows the signing of Executive Order 14172 on 20 January, directing the Secretary of the Interior to rename the US Continental Shelf area bounded by Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba.
'Restoring American greatness'
In an official statement, the White House quoted Trump: "I took this action in part because, as stated in that Order, 'the area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico has long been an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation and has remained an indelible part of America.'"
"Today, I am very honoured to recognise February 9, 2025, as the first-ever Gulf of America Day," Trump added.
He further urged Americans to commemorate the occasion with "appropriate programmes, ceremonies, and activities."
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Sunday marked the President's first visit to the renamed Gulf of America.
"As my Administration restores American pride in the history of American greatness, it is fitting and appropriate for our great Nation to come together and commemorate this momentous occasion and the renaming of the Gulf of America," he asserted.
The White House shared celebratory messages on X, formerly Twitter, including a map with the new designation.
The President himself posted a video on X, where he was seen signing the proclamation.
"Make America great again, right. That's what we care about," he remarked.
Mixed reception and map update
Google Maps, in a post on X, announced that it would update the name from "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" on US maps in line with the Geographic Names System.
However, it clarified that the original name would remain in Mexico, with both names visible to international users.
The proclamation has sparked debate, with supporters praising it as a move to restore national pride, while critics questioned the necessity of renaming a body of water with deep historical and geographical significance.
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