President-elect Donald Trump has stirred controversy yet again with a proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” Trump told a news conference on Tuesday that the changeover reflects U.S. supremacy in the region. “We do most of the work there, and it’s ours,” he said, signaling his intention to redefine the identity of the waters bordering Mexico and the United States.
This statement, though unforeseen, follows Trump’s overall discourse regarding border control and pride in one’s nation. Besides blaming Mexico for drug problems and immigration, Trump further reiterated that he would charge significant tariffs against both Mexico and Canada.
Name Origin of the Gulf
The Gulf of Mexico has its present name from the mid-16th century when Spanish explorers mapped out the region. It was also known historically as the “Golfo de Mexico”, a significant body of water surrounded by a Spanish-controlled territory which consisted of parts of modern-day Mexico, Cuba, and the southern United States.
Over time, the gulf has taken on great meaning. With around 600,000 square miles of space, it is the ninth biggest body of water and enforces highly key roles within the economies of encompassing nations. The gulf supports industries such as petroleum refinement and seafood production alone within the United States today, thus making the gulf a vital sector within national and international trade.
Economic and Environmental Importance
Setting geographical boundaries aside, the Gulf of Mexico is an economic powerhouse for the United States. Approximately half of the nation’s petroleum refining and natural gas processing occurs along its coastline. In addition, the gulf supplies almost 40% of seafood within the U.S., further demonstrating its role in maintaining the country’s food supply.
Tourism also flourishes in the region with millions of visitors coming each year to enjoy the marshlands and tidal shorelines of the gulf. According to NOAA, hundreds of species of fish call the gulf home, making it an ecological treasure as well as an economic asset.
Past Attempts to Rename the Gulf
Trump’s isn’t the first proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico. In 2012, Mississippi State Rep. Steve Holland filed legislation to rename it the “Gulf of America.” Later, though, Holland said his measure was an ironic poke at his fellow Republicans’ anti-immigrant policies.
Even before, comedian Stephen Colbert suggested the same name in jest during the 2010 BP oil spill on his show, saying, “We broke it, we bought it.”
The renaming of the gulf has always been a very controversial issue, stirring debates on historical, geographical, and national levels. As much as Trump’s proposal may resonate with his supporters, it also simplifies the shared responsibilities and benefits of this vital waterway.
The question, as it plays out, is surely going to take its place beside other highly debated issues on the political horizon. Only time will say which way the idea of renaming the Gulf of Mexico will go.
