House Passes Bill to Officially Rename Gulf of Mexico as ‘Gulf of America’

The House of Representatives voted Thursday to formally rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” a measure driven by Republican lawmakers and closely associated with President Donald Trump, as per Fox News.

The bill passed by a narrow margin of 211–206, with all Democrats opposing the measure. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) was the only Republican to vote against the bill.

The legislation was spearheaded by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a staunch ally of Trump, who has championed the name change as a move to promote national pride and honor US military and economic interests in the region.

“This is such an important thing to do for the American people,” Greene said during floor debate. “They deserve pride in their country, and they deserve pride in the waters that we own and protect.”

Democrats criticized the move as unnecessary and politically motivated. House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) condemned the measure as a distraction from more pressing national issues.

“Republicans think this juvenile legislation is the best use of this House’s time,” Hoyer said. “What a sick joke this is. Republicans worry about 400-year-old words on a map while families across the country are struggling.”

The vote followed former President Trump’s February proclamation aboard Air Force One declaring February 9 as “Gulf of America Day,” a symbolic gesture that stirred debate over historical naming conventions and national identity.

While Republican supporters argued the name change could boost regional tourism and national morale, others within the party expressed quiet frustration with the bill. Some lawmakers reportedly felt it detracted from more substantive legislative efforts tied to Trump’s broader policy agenda.

“I’ve heard criticisms from all corners of the conference,” said Rep. Bacon, who opposed the measure. “It seems sophomoric. The United States is bigger and better than this.”

Several GOP lawmakers voiced concerns privately about the prioritization of the renaming bill over what they saw as more meaningful legislative action.

The proposed name change would apply to all federal references to the body of water that borders several southern US states, though it may face legal and diplomatic hurdles before being fully implemented.