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

Fact Check Requested: A DBUNK app user submitted this article from Forbes, seeking clarity on whether President Trump has the authority to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

The Claim

The article, authored by Mary Whitfill Roeloffs and published on January 21, 2025, alleges that newly inaugurated President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on federal documents. Among other points, the article explores whether Trump has the authority to effect such a name change and if it would be recognized internationally.

Our Verdict

The claim is partially accurate but overstates Trump’s authority. While President Trump can direct federal agencies to adopt the name “Gulf of America” for U.S. government documents, maps, and databases, his executive order cannot enforce this change globally, nor infringe on international naming conventions or sovereignty agreements.

Detailed Findings

Misinformation: The article incorrectly implies that Trump’s executive order could broadly redefine the Gulf’s name. For example, it states, “Trump doesn’t have the authority to rename the body of water globally.” While technically true, the article appears to conflate federal jurisdiction with international naming, potentially confusing readers about the scope of presidential powers. For clarity, changes made via the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) only affect U.S. government publications—not international bodies like the United Nations or maritime maps.

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Who controls the naming? The Secretary of the Interior—who oversees the GNIS—does have the authority to rename U.S.-referenced features. However, the Gulf of Mexico is both a geographical and political entity that is internationally recognized. Trump’s order only applies to internal U.S. documents and maps, and the new name would not be legally binding for other countries like Mexico, Cuba, or international bodies.

Missing Context

The article fails to provide crucial information about international naming conventions. For example, the United Nations Groups of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) plays a key role in standardizing geographic names internationally. Without collaboration with nations bordering the gulf—including Mexico and Cuba—the term “Gulf of America” would lack international legitimacy. This nuance was omitted from the article.

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Additionally, the article highlights past disagreements over geographic naming, such as the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, but glosses over the ongoing geopolitical and cultural implications of name changes. This omission leaves readers without a holistic understanding of the broader consequences of unilateral renamings.

User Question Answered

To directly address the user’s question: No, President Trump cannot rename the Gulf of Mexico in a way that would be universally recognized. His executive order merely mandates that U.S. federal agencies refer to it as the Gulf of America in their internal systems. Beyond U.S. borders, nations and international frameworks would continue to recognize the name Gulf of Mexico unless agreements were reached involving those authorities.

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Why Does This Matter?

Accurate geographic names hold cultural, historical, and political significance. Attempts to rename international features unilaterally could strain diplomatic relationships or incite nationalist sentiments. This highlights why credible, unbiased fact-checking is imperative as individuals navigate geopolitical claims like this one.

In Conclusion

While President Trump’s executive order can change how U.S. federal institutions label the Gulf of Mexico, the name “Gulf of America” would not hold international weight or change how other nations refer to it. The article exaggerates Trump’s influence in this regard and omits significant context about international naming standards, leaving readers potentially misinformed.

Read the original article here for further context: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/01/21/trump-renaming-gulf-of-mexico-to-gulf-of-america-heres-what-he-can-and-cant-do/