MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded sharply on Wednesday to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America,” suggesting that the entire North American continent could instead be called “Mexican America.”
At a news conference on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, Sheinbaum unveiled a 1607 map of North America labelled “América Mexicana” and joked about reclaiming the historic name.
“Why don’t we call it Mexican America?” she said with a smile, pointing to the map. “It sounds pretty, no?”
🗣️ “A Estados Unidos vamos a llamarle América Mexicana, se oye bonito”.
🔴 Claudia Sheinbaum le responde a Trump sobre su propuesta de cambiar el nombre al Golfo de México por Golfo de América pic.twitter.com/wRonC7NagG
— El Universal (@El_Universal_Mx) January 8, 2025
Rising Tensions Between Leaders
Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president and a former scientist, has clashed with Trump since he won re-election in November.
The tensions began with Trump’s proposal to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican imports, a move Sheinbaum has promised to match if implemented.
Adding to the strain, Trump has announced plans to deport undocumented immigrants to Mexico regardless of their nationality.
While Sheinbaum initially resisted, she has since stated that Mexico will accept deportees but reserves the right to limit them based on nationality and may request compensation from the U.S.
On Tuesday, Trump escalated the rhetoric by claiming that Mexico is “essentially run by the cartels.” Sheinbaum dismissed the remark, calling it “misinformed.”
“In Mexico, the people rule,” she said in a statement that quickly went viral online.
“And we are going to collaborate and understand each other with the government of President Trump… defending our sovereignty as a free, independent, and sovereign country.”

Renaming Controversy Gains Momentum
Trump’s proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico, which has been known by that name since the 17th century, sparked backlash in Mexico but gained traction among his supporters.
“The Gulf of America, what a beautiful name,” Trump said on Tuesday.
“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene quickly endorsed the idea, announcing plans to introduce legislation “ASAP” to make the name change official.
According to the Washington Examiner, other lawmakers have expressed “tons of interest” in co-sponsoring the bill.
Collaboration Amid Conflict
Despite the heated exchanges, Sheinbaum reiterated her willingness to work with the incoming Trump administration, emphasising Mexico’s independence and sovereignty.
“We are going to collaborate and understand each other,” she said. “But not at the expense of our independence.”
While Sheinbaum’s remark about renaming North America appeared to be in jest, it underscores the growing friction between the two leaders as they navigate issues of trade, immigration, and national identity.
As the debate unfolds, the proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico highlights the broader geopolitical and cultural tensions between the U.S. and its southern neighbour, setting the stage for potentially fraught negotiations in the months ahead.