Gulf of America Day

Gulf of America Day is an official commemoration day observed in the United States on February 9. The name of the Gulf of Mexico was changed to the "Gulf of America" through Presidential Executive Order No. 14172, signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. Along with this change, February 9 was declared Gulf of America Day.

History and Presidential Proclamation

As part of its policy to "rebuild American heritage," the Trump administration instructed the U.S. Department of the Interior to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico, which extends along the U.S. coastline, as the "Gulf of America."

On February 9, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation officially announcing Gulf of America Day. The statement emphasized that the Gulf region is an important part of America's national heritage and invited the American public to commemorate the day with various events. The proclamation also highlighted the historical and economic significance of the region to the United States and stated that the renaming was part of a broader effort to establish a national identity.

Official Status and Implementation

Gulf of America Day has been designated as an official commemoration day by the U.S. federal government. According to the presidential proclamation:

• The use of the name "Gulf of America" in official U.S. maps and documents has been encouraged.
• Federal and state governments have been called upon to celebrate the day with various events.

Google Maps Gulf of America Update

On February 11, 2025, Google announced that it had updated the name of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" in its Maps application in the United States, following President Donald Trump’s directive.

In a statement, Google clarified that this change was implemented in accordance with updates to the U.S. Geographic Names System. As a result:

• Users in the United States will see the name "Gulf of America."
• Users in Mexico will continue to see "Gulf of Mexico."
• In other countries, both names will be displayed simultaneously.

This change has not been officially recognized in international maps or by some media organizations.

International Reactions and Controversies

Gulf of America Day and the renaming of the Gulf have sparked debates in the international community.

• The Mexican government has stated that it does not recognize the change and reaffirmed that the Gulf’s name remains "Gulf of Mexico" in international contexts.
• Some international news agencies have announced that they will not comply with Trump's directive and will continue using the name "Gulf of Mexico."

Usage and Future Implications

Gulf of America Day is recognized only within the United States and has not been adopted into international geographic naming systems. While the U.S. government continues to use this name domestically, the term "Gulf of Mexico" remains widely used on a global scale.