President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” has sparked a mix of bewilderment and mockery south of the border.
Perhaps the most amusing response came from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who demonstrated she can stand toe-to-toe with Trump when it comes to trolling. At a press conference on Monday, Sheinbaum unveiled an ancient map and suggested that perhaps North America should be renamed “América Mexicana,” in keeping with historical documents. “
That sounds nice, doesn’t it?” she quipped, delivering a sharp retort to Trump, who had previously claimed the “Gulf of America” had “a beautiful ring to it.” Sheinbaum pointed out that the term “Gulf of Mexico” is internationally recognized, and has been in use since the 16th century. A few observers, however, have noted the irony in criticizing Trump’s proposal, especially given that in 2023, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador attempted to rename the Sea of Cortez the Gulf of California, seemingly as part of his feud with the Spanish monarchy over its refusal to apologize for the historical consequences of the Conquest in the 16th century. However, while changing the name of an internal body of water is a relatively simple national matter, obtaining international recognition for an ocean shared by multiple countries is far more complicated.