On Sunday, President Donald Trump designated February 9 to be “Gulf of America Day,” the latest move by the commander in chief to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
“I call upon public officials and all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities,” Trump said in his proclamation.
HAPPY GULF OF AMERICA DAY! pic.twitter.com/xmsFDUjkXB
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 9, 2025
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on X that Trump signed the document to declare the new holiday as Air Force One flew over the gulf on the way to the Super Bowl.
✈️MOMENTS AGO ON AF1: President Trump signed a Proclamation declaring February 9th “Gulf of America Day” while flying over the newly and appropriately named GULF OF AMERICA! 🇺🇸
📸: @dto_rok pic.twitter.com/BA1f5VF3ft
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 9, 2025
“We’re flying right over it right now, so we thought this would be appropriate,” Trump said in a video posted to X. “Even bigger than the Super Bowl, this is a big thing.”
President @realDonaldTrump signs a Proclamation declaring February 9, 2025 as the first ever Gulf of America Day 🇺🇸
Listen as Air Force One announces a flyover of Gulf of America en route to Super Bowl LIX! pic.twitter.com/fNk0e6l7dL
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) February 9, 2025
Before taking office in January, Trump announced that he would rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. He took aim at Mexico, raising issues with trade deficits and cartels.
And, on the day of his inauguration, Trump signed an order directing the Interior secretary to “take all appropriate actions” to rename the U.S. Continental Shelf area as the Gulf of America.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who was with Trump in Air Force One on Sunday, said that his department had implemented the president’s instructions from the executive order.
It's official! Congratulations @POTUS on the Gulf of America! @Interior has implemented your instruction from the Executive Order on Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness. Another big win for President Trump's agenda to Make America Great Again. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/nZtkDQTFO3
— Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) February 9, 2025
“Another big win for President Trump’s agenda to Make America Great Again,” Burgum said in a post to X, which also featured a U.S. Geological Survey map showing the Gulf of America.
Mike Waltz, who is Trump’s national security adviser, posted a photo looking out a window on Air Force One and said, “Nothing like the first flight of Air Force One over the Gulf of America!”
Nothing like the first flight of Air Force One over the Gulf of America! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/pnGvsfUzfl
— Mike Waltz (@MikeWaltz47) February 9, 2025
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has unveiled a bill to ensure references in U.S. law, maps, and other records to the Gulf of Mexico are deemed to be references to the Gulf of America.
In response to Trump signing his Gulf of America holiday proclamation, Greene called on Congress to pass her legislation so “a future America Last Democrat can’t change it back!”
HAPPY GULF OF AMERICA DAY!! 🇺🇸
Aboard Air Force One today, @POTUS signed a proclamation declaring 2/9/25 the first Gulf of America Day.
Congress needs to pass my bill renaming the Gulf of America, so a future America Last Democrat can’t change it back! pic.twitter.com/UEGxEq4XfV
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) February 9, 2025
Trump threatened to institute 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico earlier this month, but paused the plan after the country sent troops to its border with the U.S. to stop drug trafficking.
Canada also sent troops to its border with the U.S., a move that averted tariffs for at least a month, like with Mexico. Meanwhile, the U.S. and China have begun a series of tit-for-tat levies.
