Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly dismissed US President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," asserting the name’s global recognition and historical significance.
Speaking on Wednesday, Sheinbaum responded to Trump’s controversial remarks made a day earlier, where he proposed the name change. Sheinbaum took the opportunity to criticise Trump’s perspective, stating, "He seems to be stuck in the past."
She humorously referenced former Mexican President Felipe Calderón, who served from 2006 to 2012, saying, "I think someone told President-elect Trump that Calderón is still in office. But no, in Mexico, the people are in charge now."
During a press conference, Sheinbaum presented a historical map highlighting Mexico's former territorial boundaries, which included land now part of the United States. With a touch of irony, she remarked, "Mexican America - that has a nice ring to it."
Sheinbaum emphasised that the name "Gulf of Mexico" is internationally recognised and deeply rooted in history, countering any suggestion of altering its identity.