Washington, DC: United States President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Sunday (local time), officially declaring February 9 as the first-ever “Gulf of America Day”, marking the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2025
Trump signed the proclamation aboard Air Force One while en route to New Orleans for Super Bowl 59, as the aircraft flew over the renamed area.
🇺🇸 Gulf of America 🇺🇸 https://t.co/7ztxK7kxlc
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 9, 2025
The renaming follows Executive Order 14172, signed on January 20, 2025, which mandated the renaming of the U.S. Continental Shelf area. The Secretary of the Interior was instructed to formally rename the region bordered by Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba.
Trump’s Justification for the Name Change
In a statement, President Trump defended his decision:
“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 honored to recognize February 9, 2025, as the first-ever Gulf of America Day.”
He further emphasized that the renaming aligns with his administration’s goal of “restoring American pride in the history of American greatness.”
Trump urged public officials and citizens to observe Gulf of America Day with “appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.”
Google Maps to Reflect Name Change
The White House shared a map on X (formerly Twitter) with the new name, “Gulf of America.” Trump also posted a video of himself signing the proclamation, stating: “Make America great again, right. That’s what we care about.”
HAPPY GULF OF AMERICA DAY! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/hFGMBRKh4S
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 9, 2025
Google Maps has confirmed that once the name is officially updated in the U.S. Geographic Names System, the platform will change “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America” in the United States. However, in Mexico, it will retain the original name, while both names will appear for users outside the two countries.