During an unusual segment on a live Fox News interview on Sunday, President Donald Trump considered renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of Trump,” a more appealing title than the “Gulf of America.”
“I decided not to do it. I think maybe it was — I think that one maybe wouldn’t have worked out, I’m not so sure, you’ll have to tell me,” Trump remarked, suggesting he was “joking” about the rebranding idea in a phone call with host Maria Bartiromo.
During their conversation, Bartiromo, seemingly taken aback by Trump on more than one occasion, asked him to clarify a recent Truth Social claim about a surge of empty oil tankers heading to the gulf to collect what he termed as “the best and ‘sweetest’ oil (and gas!) anywhere in the World.”
In response, Trump eagerly discussed a small initiative he undertook since resuming office: his effort to rename the gulf’s over 400-year-old, heavily-supported name to the “Gulf of America.”
Despite some map services, notably Google, adopting Trump’s favored title for the gulf last year, the majority retained the original designation.
On Sunday, Trump questioned the logic of the existing name, asserting that the U.S. possesses “93%” of the gulf’s “frontage.” (Note: Data from Sovereign Limits, highlighted by The New York Times last year, indicates that the U.S. actually claims only 46% of the gulf — 3% less than Mexico.)
As Trump continued to elaborate on his “Gulf of America” concept, Bartiromo attempted to contribute to the conversation.
However, Trump shifted focus to the notion of naming the gulf after himself.
“It’s going to be called the ‘Gulf of Trump,’ and then I said, ‘You know, that’s not going to play too well,'” Trump commented, as Bartiromo tried to steer the interview back on track.
He added, “You know I’m kidding. You know I’m kidding.”
Bartiromo interjected, “You’re being facetious, I know that Mr. President.”
