President-elect Donald Trump recently announced his intention to rename the **Gulf of Mexico** to the **“Gulf of America,”** calling it a name with a "beautiful ring to it." This latest proposal continues his trend of seeking to reshape geopolitical borders—including referring to Canada as the "51st State" and calling for Denmark to consider ceding Greenland (source: Time).

Trump's plan is not entirely surprising, given his history of contentious relations with Mexico over issues such as border security, immigration, and tariffs. Since his initial presidential campaign, he has consistently clashed with Mexico on various fronts, even pledging to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border (source: LA Times).

The Gulf of Mexico is often referred to as America’s “Third Coast,” serving as a critical maritime region for five southeastern states. In Mexico, it is known as **“El Golfo de México”**. As in many international naming disputes, the question arises whether Trump can successfully implement such a change. Popular opinion holds that altering the name of an internationally recognized body of water requires broader consensus ("Could Trump Really Rename the Gulf of Mexico?" source: Times of India).

While Trump's administration could push for a name change, it is unlikely to be a unilateral action. **The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)** oversees the naming and mapping of world seas and oceans and requires agreement among member nations. Thus, Mexico’s recognition of the name would be essential for its formal adoption (source: Time).

In conjunction with Trump’s comments, Representative **Marjorie Taylor Greene** expressed her intentions to draft legislation to facilitate the name change, including funding for new maps and adjustments to federal administrative policies. Historical attempts to rename the Gulf have occurred before; in 2012, a Mississippi legislator suggested renaming parts of the Gulf after the state's beaches, yet it was quickly dismissed as a joke (source: LA Times).

The Gulf, depicted by its name for over 400 years—originating from a Native American city called “Mexico”—represents a significant cultural and geographical identity. Changing its name could potentially spark **international backlash** and contribute to strained relations between the U.S. and its trade partners (source: Times of India).

Experts warn that such a move requires sensitive navigation through both political and international channels, especially given other disputes over naming rights seen in regions like the **Sea of Japan**, yet it brings attention to Trump's evolving foreign policy agenda as he prepares for his inauguration.