Trump Changed the Name of the Gulf of Mexico

Seeing Louisiana’s nonprofits, corporations, and state agencies fall into Trump’s cuckoo’s nest of racial hatred is disheartening.

Trump’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” is absurd. Yet, many quickly jumped to obey his command.

Louisiana’s government, corporations, elected officials, and federal agencies fear losing federal dollars, getting primaried, or facing violent retaliation.

Most of all, they fear Trump’s retribution, which could land them in jail or expose them to physical harm.

For these agencies and institutions, compliance is not just about marginalizing Black and Brown people. It is about survival.

Trump’s rule resembles Nurse Ratched’s dictatorship in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

The “cuckoo’s nest” symbolizes the oppressive norms that confine free expression. Republicans and Trump supporters are now its patients.

Unlike Randle McMurphy, the film’s rebel, today’s Trump followers value power and money over freedom, justice, or democracy.

Louisiana Institutions Fall in Line

Several Louisiana organizations and agencies have embraced Trump’s dystopian order:

• The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas now calls the Gulf the “Gulf of America.”
• The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries uses the new term.
• The Louisiana Department of Education adopted “Gulf of America” into K-12 social studies standards.

Trump’s Executive Order 14172, signed on his first day back in office, made the change official for federal use.

The order was a startling act of racism and a disgusting display of white supremacy and privilege.

Mexicans and Cubans, many of whom are brown-skinned, were completely disregarded.

A Deep Historical and Geographical Disrespect

For centuries, the world has known the Gulf of Mexico by its name, derived from the Mexica (Aztecs).

The Gulf borders three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. It touches five U.S. states and six Mexican states.

Still, Trump seized the opportunity to “claim” the Gulf without consulting Mexico, Cuba, or even American citizens.

He also declared February 9th as “Gulf of America Day.”

Related: Can Trump Actually Rename the Gulf of Mexico?

Americans Strongly Oppose the Name Change

Polls show most Americans oppose Trump’s renaming stunt:

• Marquette University (Feb. 2025): 71% oppose; 29% support.
• University of North Florida (Feb. 2025): 58% oppose; 31% support; 10% unsure.
• Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll (Jan. 2025): 72% oppose; 28% support.

However, some Louisiana coastal residents embrace the change.

David Chauvin of Dulac, Louisiana, who owns seafood companies, welcomed the rebrand and filed a trademark for his packaging.

Mexico and Cuba Push Back

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum dismissed Trump’s claim, saying the Gulf remains the Gulf of Mexico for the entire world.

She joked that if Trump can rename the Gulf, Mexico could rename North America “Mexican America.”

However, Sheinbaum’s humor faded when Google Maps reflected the new name.

She announced plans to sue Google, citing U.S. sovereignty limits of only 12 nautical miles offshore.

Google later split the difference: U.S. users see “Gulf of America,” while Mexican and Cuban users still see “Gulf of Mexico.”

Institutions That Have Adopted “Gulf of America”

Several agencies and corporations have changed terminology:

Government Agencies:

• U.S. Coast Guard
• National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center
• U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

Corporations:

• Chevron
• BP
• Occidental Petroleum
• Google (for U.S. users)
• Apple
• Microsoft
• Murphy Oil
• Shell

Education:

• Florida schools and state agencies mandated the change first.

It Was Always About Money

Trump’s move was not based on history or pride. It was a financial transaction.

The Gulf is America’s primary offshore source of oil and gas. It generates about 97% of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) production.

In Fiscal Year 2024, OCS activities generated $7 billion in revenue. Most of it funded daily U.S. government operations.

Trump sees control of the Gulf as a money grab.

But if Trump believes he can claim revenues from the entire Gulf, he faces a fierce opponent in Sheinbaum.