Gulf of Mexico naming controversy

The name of the Gulf of Mexico became a subject of dispute in the United States starting in 2025.

The gulf has been known as the Gulf of Mexico since the 1550s, having derived its name from Mexica, the Nahuatl term for the Aztecs. The name soon became internationally recognized and in use by bodies such as the International Hydrographic Organization.

On January 7, 2025, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump announced that he intended to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America". On January 20, 2025, the day of his inauguration, President Trump signed Executive Order 14172, directing U.S. federal agencies to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America". Only the U.S. executive branch is bound by the order. As of February 2025, polling shows the majority of Americans oppose this change.

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