Proc. 10894: Gulf of America Day, 2025

Proclamations

This proclamation establishes February 9, 2025 as “Gulf of America Day” following Executive Order 14172 signed on January 20, 2025.

The renamed area encompasses the U.S. Continental Shelf bounded by:

  • Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida to the north
  • Maritime boundaries with Mexico and Cuba to the south

Implementation details:

  • The Secretary of the Interior has 30 days to formalize the name change
  • The U.S. Coast Guard has already begun using the new name in official communications
  • All federal agencies must update maps, contracts and other documents to reflect the change

The proclamation was signed aboard Air Force One as Trump flew over the newly renamed gulf en route to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. This made Trump the first president to:

  • Sign a proclamation while flying over the gulf
  • Attend a Super Bowl in person as a sitting president

The renaming initiative is part of a broader set of territorial and naming policies including:

  • Proposed annexation of Canada as the 51st state
  • Plans to implement 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports
  • Intentions to establish “reciprocal tariffs” with other nations

The proclamation calls for:

  • Public officials and citizens to observe the day with “appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities”
  • Federal agencies to implement the name change in all official communications and documentation

The order represents a significant shift in geographic naming conventions for this major body of water, which had historically been known as “Mexican Bay” (Seno Mexicano) until the early 19th century.

ACTIONS

  • 2025-02-27: Nature Conservancy Allegedly Told to Say ‘Gulf of America’ or Lose Federal Funding | Heatmap News — The Nature Conservancy has renamed its Gulf of Mexico program to “Gulf of America” following President Trump’s executive order that changed the name of this body of water, with the organization stating the change was made to comply with federal directives and ensure continued access to funding. The organization updated its website to reflect this change while explaining that they continue to use “Gulf of Mexico” when referring to programs outside U.S. territorial waters.

REFERENCES

  • 2025-02-21: AP sues 3 Trump administration officials, citing freedom of speech | AP News — The Associated Press has filed a lawsuit against three Trump administration officials over restricted access to presidential events, citing freedom of speech violations. The lawsuit comes in response to the White House blocking AP journalists after the news agency declined to fully adopt President Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” in its reporting.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION

Today, I am very honored to recognize February 9, 2025, as the first ever Gulf of America Day.

On January 20, 2025, I signed Executive Order 14172 (“Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness”). Among other actions, that Executive Order required the Secretary of the Interior, acting pursuant to 43 U.S.C. 364 through 364f, to “take all appropriate actions to rename as the ‘Gulf of America’ the U.S. Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the State of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba in the area formerly named as the Gulf of Mexico.”

I took this action in part because, as stated in that Order, “[t]he area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico has long been an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation and has remained an indelible part of America.”

Today, I am making my first visit to the Gulf of America since its renaming. As my Administration restores American pride in the history of American greatness, it is fitting and appropriate for our great Nation to come together and commemorate this momentous occasion and the renaming of the Gulf of America.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the UnitedStates of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the UnitedStates, do hereby proclaim February 9, 2025, as Gulf of America Day. Icall upon public officials and all the people of the UnitedStates to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninthday of February, in the year of our Lord twothousandtwenty-five, and of the Independence of the UnitedStates ofAmerica the twohundred and forty-ninth.