Washington DC (US), February 10: US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has congratulated President Donald Trump for signing an executive order that officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America.
Burgum, who serves as the 55th Secretary of the US Department of the Interior, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his support, stating: “It’s official! Congratulations @POTUS on the Gulf of America! @Interior has implemented your instruction from the Executive Order on Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness. Another big win for President Trump’s agenda to Make America Great Again.”
The Proclamation and Renaming Process
On February 9, President Trump signed a proclamation declaring February 9 as the first-ever Gulf of America Day to mark the renaming of the area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico. This move follows the Executive Order 14172 signed on January 20, 2025, mandating the renaming of the US Continental Shelf area, which includes the Gulf of Mexico.
In his statement, Trump explained, “I took this action in part because, as stated in that Order, ‘[t]he 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.'” The renaming initiative is part of his broader effort to restore national pride and celebrate American history.
The Renaming in Action
As Air Force One flew over the Gulf on its way to New Orleans for Super Bowl 59, President Trump signed the proclamation. He later posted on X, “Happy Gulf of America Day!” and called for public officials and citizens across the nation to observe the day with appropriate activities and ceremonies.
Trump also shared a video of himself signing the proclamation, emphasizing his commitment to his “Make America Great Again” agenda, saying, “Make America great again, right. That’s what we care about.”
Map Changes and Global Recognition
In an update on January 27, Google Maps announced that the name “Gulf of Mexico” would be changed to “Gulf of America” once it is officially updated in the US Geographic Names System. This change will be visible within the United States, while outside the US, users will see both names. In Mexico, the name will remain “Gulf of Mexico.”