GUWAHATI: US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Monday, February 10, renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" and declaring the date as "Gulf of America Day."
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This directive, part of Executive Order 14172 titled "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness," has initiated the US Department of the Interior to formalise the transition within 30 days.
According to a statement from the White House, the executive order defines the renamed Gulf as the “US Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba.”
In his proclamation, Trump stated that the Gulf has been an integral asset to the United States and remains a key part of the nation's history. "The area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico has long been an indelible part of America,” he reportedly remarked. “As my administration restores American pride, it is fitting and appropriate for our great Nation to commemorate this momentous occasion."
Following the order, the US Coast Guard has begun using the name "Gulf of America," and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has been directed to oversee the official transition. Trump’s proclamation has also urged public officials and citizens to observe Gulf of America Day through "appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities."
Historically, the body of water was referred to as "Mexican Bay" (Seno Mexicano) until the early 19th century, before being named the Gulf of Mexico by Spanish explorers. The original name stemmed from Mexico’s extensive coastline along the Gulf.
