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In a vote that critics called symbolic and partisan, the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly approved a bill that would rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” giving legislative support to a controversial Trump-era executive order.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), passed on a 211–206 vote, with all Democrats and one Republican, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), opposing it. Sixteen members were absent. The legislation directs all federal agencies to replace “Gulf of Mexico” with “Gulf of America” in documents, maps, and regulations within six months.
“This is such an important thing to do for the American people,” Greene said during floor debate, claiming the new name would reflect national pride and “recognize the waters that we protect and that help fuel American prosperity.”
But Democrats slammed the bill as a waste of time. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called it a “silly, small-minded and sycophantic piece of legislation.”
Limited impact, legal controversy:
Though the White House issued a statement supporting the bill, saying Trump’s advisers would recommend he sign it, the legislation faces long odds in the Democratic minority-controlled Senate. It would need 60 votes to pass — a near impossibility given bipartisan skepticism.
The measure has also sparked legal pushback. In April, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction to The Associated Press in a lawsuit alleging the Trump administration restricted its access to the White House due to the outlet’s refusal to use the term “Gulf of America.” The court ruled that editorial independence was protected under the First Amendment.
Only one Republican breaks ranks:
Rep. Bacon, the lone Republican “no” vote, said in a statement that renaming geographic features was “not a priority” and sent “a bad message to the rest of the world.” He urged colleagues to focus instead on the reconciliation bill and healthcare reforms.
What’s next:
The bill is unlikely to pass the Senate and may serve more as a political statement than a functional change in U.S. policy. Still, it reflects a broader Trump-era strategy of rebranding national symbols — and could play prominently in future campaign rhetoric.
If enacted, the legislation tasks Interior Secretary Doug Burgum with overseeing implementation of the name change across all federal platforms.
The Gulf of Mexico — a name in use for centuries — borders the U.S., Mexico, and Cuba. Neither Mexico nor any international body has recognized the proposed renaming.
