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Fact Check Analysis: Can Trump Rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America?

Submitted by one of our DBUNK subscribers, this article’s claims about former President Donald Trump attempting to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” sparked widespread confusion. Here’s our detailed look into what’s true, what’s misleading, and what context was omitted.

The Claims vs. The Facts

The article, published by Forbes, reports that former President Donald Trump, on his first day in office in 2025, signed an executive order instructing federal agencies to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on U.S. federal documents. While the information provided in the article reflects the executive order correctly, several key areas reveal misinformation, missing context, and bias that must be highlighted for readers to understand the full picture.

Misinformation and Missing Context Exposed

Let’s address the primary question posed by DBUNK’s users: Can Trump actually rename the Gulf of Mexico? The short answer is no, not entirely—and here’s why:

Claim 1: The Gulf of Mexico Can Be Officially Renamed via Federal Action

The article suggests that Trump has effectively renamed the Gulf through his executive order. However, this claim lacks clarity and is misleading. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international maritime norms, the name of an international body of water is not determined unilaterally by one country. While the U.S. has the authority to change the name in its internal Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and apply that change to federal maps and documents, the renaming does not apply internationally. Other countries, such as Mexico, are under no obligation to recognize or use the new name. The article acknowledges this point later, but it is tucked away beneath less relevant details, leaving readers potentially misled early on.

Claim 2: Trump’s Order Sets a Precedent for Changing International Names

The piece asserts that this action could influence global acknowledgment, but the article omits a crucial fact: historical precedent shows otherwise. Similar disputes, such as the disagreement between South Korea and Japan over the East Sea/Sea of Japan and the contested names of the South China Sea, demonstrate that without mutual agreement, global recognition of a name change is nearly impossible. Furthermore, unilateral name changes may lead to geopolitical strains without achieving broader international adoption.

Bias in Language and Presentation

While the article seems to position itself as a factual breakdown, closer analysis reveals subtle bias in its presentation:

The language used to describe Trump’s motivations (“in recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our nation’s economy”) mirrors the phrasing of Trump’s executive order, suggesting an uncritical repetition of his viewpoint. It lacks deeper examination of whether renaming the Gulf has economic or practical policy implications—something readers would expect from a comprehensive report.

Moreover, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s sarcastic remark about renaming North America “América Mexicana” is presented without nuance. This could imply hostility or tension without providing full context about the diplomatic norms surrounding such commentary.

Who Owns the Gulf of Mexico?

The claim that Trump declared it as “our Gulf,” suggesting it is owned by the United States, is **highly misleading.** The Gulf of Mexico spans multiple nations, including Mexico and Cuba, and international waters beyond the U.S.’s 12-mile territorial zone are governed by international law. The article does clarify this point later, but once again, missing early context leaves the initial claim vulnerable to misinterpretation.

Answering the User’s Question: Can Trump Rename the Gulf of Mexico?

In short: Donald Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally rename the Gulf of Mexico under international law. His executive order only impacts federal U.S. documents and maps. The name “Gulf of America” would not be globally recognized without the agreement of other bordering nations like Mexico. This means that on the world stage, the Gulf will almost certainly remain officially recognized as the Gulf of Mexico.

Conclusion

While the article provides some factual content, it leaves readers with an incomplete and partially misleading picture due to omissions, improper context, and subtle bias. As such, this story reinforces the importance of critically evaluating all sources of information—and DBUNK is here to help you do just that.

Our readers can submit fact-checking requests, just like this one, for free. Stay tuned for the launch of our app, and take the power of media verification into your own hands.

Read the original article here: Trump Renaming Gulf Of Mexico To ‘Gulf Of America.’ Here’s What He Can—And Can’t—Do