Background and Context
On January 20, during his second term, President Donald Trump signed a decree renaming the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America.” This symbolic move aimed to reflect a perceived national identity. Major U.S. tech companies like Google and Apple updated their maps accordingly for American users.
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, responded humorously by suggesting calling the United States “América Mexicana,” referencing historical maps when much of present-day western U.S. was part of Mexico.
The Proposed Legislation
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a staunch Trump supporter, introduced the bill to prevent future reversal of the decision. A law would require a new legislative process to repeal, unlike an executive decree which can be undone by subsequent administrations.
Symbolism and Impact
The bill’s approval is largely symbolic as other nations aren’t obligated to adopt the new name, and it’s unlikely to pass the Senate requiring Democratic votes.
The bill was passed with 211 votes in favor against 206, including Republican Congressman Don Bacon who deemed the change “childish.” He argued, “We are the United States of America. Not Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm or France under Napoleon.”
Costs and Responsibilities
The federal government would incur less than $500,000 over five years to update documents and maps, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Public institutions like schools and libraries would bear their own updating costs.
Opposition and Legal Challenges
Democratic Minority Leader in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, urged against voting for the bill, calling it “ridiculous.”
The decree sparked a dispute between the White House and the Associated Press (AP), a cornerstone of U.S. journalism, which refused to adopt the new name. In response, AP was excluded from White House coverage and Air Force One flights in February.
A federal judge ruled in April that denying AP access based on viewpoints violated the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and press.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the purpose of this bill? The bill aims to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, reflecting a perceived national identity.
- Who introduced this bill? Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a supporter of former President Donald Trump.
- Why is this largely symbolic? Other nations aren’t obligated to use the new name, and it’s unlikely to pass the Senate requiring Democratic votes.
- What were the costs associated with this change? The federal government would incur less than $500,000 over five years to update documents and maps. Public institutions would cover their own updating costs.
- What was the reaction from major tech companies? Companies like Google and Apple updated their maps for American users in line with the decree.
- How did Mexico respond? Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, humorously suggested calling the United States “América Mexicana,” referencing historical maps.
- What legal challenges arose from this decree? The Associated Press was excluded from White House coverage and Air Force One flights. A federal judge ruled that denying AP access based on viewpoints violated the First Amendment.
