February 9 Declared 'Gulf of America Day' After Gulf of Mexico Renaming By Donald Trump

Last Sunday, US President Donald Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America and signed an executive order declaring February 9 “Gulf of America Day.” This proclamation came shortly after Executive Order 14172, signed on January 20, 2025, which stated that the official name had been changed to Gulf of America.

The executive order, ‘Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,’ mandated that the interior secretary implement the name change within a month of its signing.

Trump signed the proclamation last Sunday on board Air Force One, which was traveling to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX. This marks his first trip to the Gulf of Mexico since it was renamed, and He urges the citizens of America to accept the change. 

He called for public officials and citizens to celebrate Gulf of America Day with ceremonies and programs celebrating the region's contributions to the nation's prosperity. Reports suggest that the United States Coast Guard has already adopted the use of the Gulf of America in their official communications.

Trump emphasized the relevance of the renaming. He noted that this area was significant to America's growth and economic might. "This is no wonder because in restoring American pride in America's historical accomplishments, it is appropriate for our great nation to gather in honor of this great turning point and the renaming of the Gulf of America," he said.

The change may begin to appear on official government documents and maps. However, it was unclear if schools would officially use the new name.

This happened just as tensions rose between Trump and Mexico. The 78-year-old recently threatened a 25 percent tariff on goods from Mexico, although he halted that idea after Mexico agreed to send 10,000 National Guard troops to the border.

Mexico’s Response to Trump’s Order

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum initially laughed off Trump's order.

When Trump made his suggestion early in the year, Sheinbaum responded with a retort for North America: "América Mexicana," or "Mexican America," referring to a phrase from a 19th-century document. The week of Trump's inauguration, she told reporters that he could name the Gulf whatever he wanted.

That was even before she took Google to task last week when it announced its plans to comply.

At a press conference on Thursday, she confronted reporters with a copy of a letter she e-mailed to Google stating that clarification of the gulf can't come from one country. She cited the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. She noted that a country's territorial sovereignty cannot extend more than 12 nautical miles from baseline areas along the coastal line.

"In other words, if a country wants to change the designation of something in the sea, it would only apply to 12 nautical miles. It cannot apply to the rest, for instance, the Gulf of Mexico," Sheinbaum said. "And that's what we have explained in detail to Google."

Read Also: Fans React to Kodak Black Eating Chicken in the Street