On Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded sarcastically to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”
The proposal, made during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, has stirred controversy.
Standing before a 17th-century world map at her daily press briefing in Mexico City, Sheinbaum proposed dryly, “How about renaming North America as ‘América Mexicana,’ or ‘Mexican America’? After all, a founding document from 1814 that preceded Mexico’s constitution referred to it that way.”
She added sarcastically, “That sounds nice, doesn’t it?”
She then reminded Trump that the United Nations officially recognizes the Gulf of Mexico’s name, which has been used since 1607.
Trump had announced the proposal during a wide-ranging press event at his Mar-a-Lago estate, saying, “We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring. It’s appropriate, and Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country.”
Trump also hinted at plans to bring Greenland and the Panama Canal under U.S. control, suggesting military or economic coercion as a potential strategy.
Sheinbaum’s comments were the latest in a series of exchanges between the two leaders, setting the tone for their bilateral relationship. Her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, maintained a cooperative relationship with Trump despite political differences.
However, Sheinbaum—a scientist and leftist—faces the challenge of navigating Trump’s strong-handed diplomatic approach while addressing domestic expectations.
Responding to Trump’s pitch for a 25% tariff on Mexican imports, Sheinbaum warned during the briefing, “If the new U.S. administration imposes such tariffs, Mexico will respond with similar measures. Such taxes are unacceptable and would cause inflation and job losses on both sides of the border.”
In a related development, Canadian Premier Doug Ford joined the wave of sarcastic responses to Trump’s recent comments about annexing Canada. Ford quipped at a press event in Ontario, “How about if we buy Alaska and throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time?”
Experts believe Sheinbaum’s use of humor projected strength and deflected Trump’s provocations. Brian Winter, vice president of the New York-based Council of the Americas, commented, “Humor can be a good tactic—it projects strength, which is what Trump responds to. But Sheinbaum knows this won’t work on all issues. Serious engagement on trade, immigration, and drug policies will be critical.”
Just under two weeks before Trump’s inauguration, questions remain about how Sheinbaum will handle growing tensions.
While she has signaled openness to collaboration, particularly on immigration, her strong rhetoric on trade suggests she will defend Mexico’s interests firmly.
