President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20 to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." This directive requires the Secretary of the Interior to implement the name change across federal communications and data systems within 30 days. The move has prompted some corporations, such as Chevron, to adopt the new terminology in their official documents. Chevron, a major player in the energy industry, referred to the region as the "Gulf of America" in its earnings release on Friday, aligning with the presidential order.
The Gulf of Mexico, now referred to by some as the "Gulf of America," spans from Texas to Florida along the southeastern U.S. border, reaching the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and extending eastward to Cuba. Despite Chevron's compliance, other companies like Exxon Mobil continue to use alternative designations such as "U.S. Gulf Coast" in their reports. Notably, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) still uses "Gulf of Mexico" as of Friday. The executive order does not seem to legally compel private companies to alter their communication practices regarding the Gulf.
Chevron's decision to adhere to the executive order has sparked discussions about corporate alignment with Trump's administration during his second term. The energy company contributed $2 million to Trump's inauguration, highlighting a potential link between corporate support and compliance. The White House asserts that the name change aims to reflect the Gulf's importance to America's economy.
"The Gulf will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping America's future and the global economy, and in recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation's economy and its people, I am directing that it officially be renamed the Gulf of America." – Donald Trump
While the name change will not affect the physical body of water, it has drawn criticism for potentially erasing the region's cultural and historical identity. Critics argue that such a change undermines the longstanding heritage associated with the Gulf of Mexico.
Additionally, the order aligns with recent trends among American businesses rolling back diversity initiatives, mirroring Trump’s push for similar changes within federal agencies. While some corporations align their public communications with current federal directives, others maintain their traditional nomenclature.