Marjorie Taylor Greene pushes "Gulf of America" bill
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, has voiced her support for renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, introducing and pushing a bill to implement the change shortly after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the name to be changed.
Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Greene via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The renaming of the Gulf of Mexico was one of the first decisions that Trump has made upon entering the White House. It symbolizes his "America First" approach to foreign policy.
In his executive order, one of several signed on his first day in office on Monday, Trump said the name change was in recognition of the Gulf's "critical importance to our nation's economy and its people."
What To Know
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Greene, a staunch Trump ally, wrote on Thursday: "...Congress must pass my bill renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. This funds the actual renaming on all mapping in our government. We have to force this to happen and we should! We rename post offices all the time this isn't complicated."
The large body of water that borders Mexico, the United States and Cuba has been called the Gulf of Mexico for more than 400 years before the U.S. existed as a country.
At a press conference held at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida earlier this month, Trump told reporters that his administration would change the body of water's name to the "Gulf of America," which he said, "has a beautiful ring" to it "because we do most of the work there and it's ours."
"That covers a lot of territory," Trump said, adding that "The Gulf of America, what a beautiful name, and it's appropriate."
Greene's support for the measure come shortly after she clashed with a reporter who asked her about Trump's recent pardons for the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol rioters.
"I'm not doing this," the congresswoman told a reporter from Punchbowl News when asked about the pardons. "All of y'all's obsession with January 6 is absurd."
The renaming initiative has sparked discussions about its feasibility and international implications as there is no clear international law that mandates the naming of bodies of water.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the proposal by stating that Mexico and the rest of the world would continue to refer to it as the Gulf of Mexico.
So has the United Kingdom, which according to The Telegraph, has said it will continue to call the body of water by its current name until the new title gains widespread usage.
Nationally, the order does not extend to state governments or private companies, meaning there's no nationwide mandate to switch to the new terminology.
However, Trump's executive order has directed federal agencies to use the new name. Private sector maps have not yet adopted the change, with the body of water continuing to be labeled the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida, meanwhile, has become the first state to officially refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," following Trump's executive order. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis used the term in an emergency declaration issued on Monday ahead of a forecast winter storm.
What People Are Saying
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene applauded Trump's move, writing on X, formerly Twitter, on January 7: "President Trump's second term is off to a GREAT start. I'll be introducing legislation ASAP to officially change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to its rightful name, the Gulf of America!"
President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14170 state: "It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation and ensure future generations of American citizens celebrate the legacy of our American heroes. The naming of our national treasures, including breathtaking natural wonders and historic works of art, should honor the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans in our Nation's rich past."
What Happens Next
Federal agencies have been given one month to begin updating documents and maps with the new name. Additionally, following Florida's footsteps, other state governments may continue to adopt the change.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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