White House Pushes for Name Change of Gulf Amid Democratic Opposition
The White House is supporting a proposal by House Republicans to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico, reflecting a push to solidify a name tied to former President Donald Trump. The House Rules Committee is evaluating a bill to formalize this change, which would stop references to the Gulf of Mexico in southeastern U.S. waters.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly expressed frustration with the Democrats’ opposition, stating, “They seem more focused on obstructing than supporting America’s interests. The Gulf has been a vital asset for generations, and it should be recognized as part of our national identity.”
Four Democratic lawmakers have proposed amendments aimed at reversing the law, despite the Republican majority in the committee. One amendment, led by D-Calif Rep. Jared Huffman, seeks to undo a similar decision by Trump to rename Mount McKinley in Alaska back to its indigenous name, Denali. Trump had reinstated McKinley on his first day of office this year.
The second amendment, introduced by Rep. Darren Soto of Florida, aims to restrict Trump’s ability to issue oil and gas drilling leases in the Gulf region. Senator Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., has also suggested an amendment that would prohibit the Trump administration from retaliating against media that continues to use the name Gulf of Mexico.
This push comes after a federal judge ordered the administration to grant access to Associated Press reporters following an incident where access was blocked over the media’s naming practices.
Another amendment from Rep. Luz Rivas of California seeks to delay the name change until the Department of the Interior can evaluate its economic impact.
Rivas criticized the initiative as a mere “vanity project,” expressing concern over the pressing issues many Americans face under current economic policies. “Instead of focusing on real solutions, we see this gimmick,” she remarked.
The bill is anticipated to come up for a vote later this week, signaling a broader effort within the Republican Congress to make Trump’s decisions more permanent. This name change was one of Trump’s earliest actions upon beginning his second term.
Officials from the remaining Democratic offices contacted for comments had not responded by the time of this report.
