U.S. Declares Gulf of Mexico the ‘Gulf of America’

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced on Friday that the Gulf of Mexico will now be referred to as the "Gulf of America," following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. This decision, made in the spirit of celebrating "American greatness," has sparked significant debate given the historical context of the name.

The name "Gulf of Mexico" has been in use since the 16th century and is recognized internationally. In response to the renaming, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum asserted that for Mexico and the world, it will remain the Gulf of Mexico, emphasizing its longstanding recognition.

In addition to this change, the Department of the Interior indicated that North America's highest peak, Denali, would revert to its former name, Mount McKinley. This mountain had been renamed Denali in 2015 to honor its cultural significance to Alaska's Indigenous population.

The 2015 decision highlighted that William McKinley, a former U.S. president, had no substantial historical connection to the mountain.

The Department of the Interior stated that these name changes are intended to "honor the legacy of American greatness," echoing Trump's sentiments. They further noted that the U.S. Board on Geographic Names is working swiftly to update official federal maps and documents to reflect these changes.