The inside story of how Trump came to name the ‘Gulf of America’

A 'Gulf of America' map sat alongside Donald Trump in the Oval Office as he talked up the new name. (Image: The Washington Post)

The Washington Post

Sat, 01 Mar 2025

By Matt Viser, with assistance from Jacqueline Alemany, Dan Diamond and Clara Ence MorsePresident-elect Donald Trump was sitting with a group of advisers at Mar-a-Lago, batting around ideas and preparing for a news conference, when he first verbalised an idea that many had not heard previously.He wanted to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Henceforth, he decided, it would be called the Gulf of America.Those in the room were immediately enthusiastic, and he began toying with revealing the concept when he went in front of the television cameras later in...

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