# The "Gulf of America"? Wth? Can you just change the name of a body of water? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 7, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683 "2025-01-07T18:54:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/181 "2025-01-22T20:33:35Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > At least the weather service part he does. Can’t he just appoint someone that says, “Climate change isn’t a thing.” ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/182 "2025-01-22T20:40:33Z")
Someone on Reddit suggested if the Gulf of Mexico had to be renamed it should really be renamed to Sea Senor. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/183 "2025-01-22T20:45:00Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Sea Senor. It often does come up with huge tears in it’s eyes (of the hurricanes). ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/184 "2025-01-22T21:41:35Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The US Board on Geographic Names approves the name change. And then they probably have to publish it somewhere. Not sure exactly where. They do have a large database, but there’s probably some circular listing the latest decisions. Do they have any say about naming things that aren’t part of the USA? The Gulf of Mexico is outside the US. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/185 "2025-01-22T21:45:23Z")
Most geographic names aren’t part of the US. We still have names for them. The US Board would mainly be for official US purposes. But common American use would likely follow after enough time. Other countries probably aren’t going to lose sleep over not following. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/186 "2025-01-22T22:10:50Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Doesn’t Trump want to get rid of NOAA? He probably hasn’t noticed that that’s who all the other weather channels are getting their info from. If he drives weather forecasting back to the 1920’s, it’s going to be quite an unpleasant surprise to a whole lot of people who voted for him. Not that it’ll be the only one, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/187 "2025-01-22T22:14:19Z")
But it will be the fault of the Deep State somehow mumble, mumble mumble sabatoging Trump’s efforts to fix everything. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/188 "2025-01-22T22:53:57Z")
Actually, it occurs to me that Trump probably doesn’t realize that weather forecasts actually matter a great deal to a whole lot of people; including, but not limited to, every farmer in the country. As well as everybody trying to put out fires, of course. Including dumpster fires. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/189 "2025-01-22T23:03:27Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > In what may be its first official use of the term, a Coast Guard press release about repositioning assets to comply with border protection uses the name Gulf of America. Private entities can do what they want, but the US government has started using the term already Desantis in Florida used it Monday in an emergency order about Winter Storm Enzo. > [@](#): > > **WHEREAS** , an area of low pressure moving across the _Gulf of America_, interacting with > Arctic air, will bring widespread impactful winter weather to North Florida beginning Tuesday, > January 21, 2025; and Bold in the original, italics added. FYI, we got 2+ inches in Tally and Pensacola Beach got 7+. Combined snow, ice. As I told my wife, Trump got elected and Hell promptly froze over. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/190 "2025-01-22T23:26:18Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > I think I am going to rename my toilet bowl the Gulf of Trump Is it orange? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/191 "2025-01-22T23:32:27Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > He probably hasn’t noticed that that’s who all the other weather channels are getting their info from. My recollection is that the commercial weather outlets want to keep on getting the raw data from NOAA. Their objection is to government web pages like this, which they consider to be competition: [Local Weather Example](https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Kennett+Square&state=PA&site=PHI&textField1=39.8437&textField2=-75.7117&e=0) I like the above link in preference to [weather.com](http://weather.com) or [accuweather.com](http://accuweather.com). What farmers prefer, I do not know. But I would not count on the Trump administration doing something unpopular with its base here. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/192 "2025-01-22T23:56:22Z")
His base will have to struggle through just like the rest of us. So sad for them. 😑 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/193 "2025-01-23T00:06:12Z")
> **[Kerry News](https://www.facebook.com/100064343543242/posts/pfbid02rnaQ7frGNktjziwrcwJrcXnHzQAAhBU9RxbzHJPeE6HsVj897PWwajQHNJLgj295l/?app=fbl)** > > In a bold move, Kerry Co Co have renamed the Atlantic to the Kerry Ocean, citing “it was ours anyway.” Locals suggest maps will now feature Dingle as the Earth's central meridian. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/194 "2025-01-23T01:22:18Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I would not count on the Trump administration doing something unpopular with its base here. I wouldn’t count on their not doing so. Quite a bit of what Trump straight out said he was going to do, some of which he’s already setting in progress, will do significant harm to that base. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/195 "2025-01-23T02:03:31Z")
Is it too wild of an idea to imagine Trump will issue EOs refusing to use many “newer” place names, and requiring use of older/imperial/colonial names? Such as Bombay instead of Mumbai. Seems like something petty enough for him, serving no purpose other than showing disrespect for non-Americans, and pissing off crybaby liberal Americans who support other nations’ rights for self determinism. America first, baby! ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/196 "2025-01-23T02:15:34Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > The Gulf of Mexico is outside the US. US territorial waters go out 12 nautical miles; the EEZ goes out 200 nm. So part of the Gulf is in the US. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Actually, it occurs to me that Trump probably doesn’t realize that weather forecasts actually matter a great deal to a whole lot of people; including, but not limited to, every farmer in the country. Also everyone who flies, which includes himself. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/197 "2025-01-23T02:19:22Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Is it too wild of an idea to imagine Trump will issue EOs refusing to use many “newer” place names, and requiring use of older/imperial/colonial names? Such as Bombay instead of Mumbai. Googling, the U.S. government does have a [Foreign Names Committee](https://www.usgs.gov/us-board-on-geographic-names/foreign-names) that he could bully. I will be surprised if he messes with Mumbai. Trump’s political similarities with Modi are too great for that. Maybe, after a spat with Xi, he will put Beijing back to Peking, ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/198 "2025-01-23T02:19:36Z")
We’re talking about a man who says things like “one of the wettest storms we’ve seen from the standpoint of water”. He doesn’t know or understand shit about weather forecasting. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/199 "2025-01-23T02:23:54Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > He doesn’t know or understand shit about weather forecasting. The private weather companies, which monetize repackaged National Weather Service data, must have a lobbyist or two. Don’t underestimate Big Weather! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/200 "2025-01-23T02:34:32Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I will be surprised if he messes with Mumbai. Yeah - I was just picking a prominent name place as an example. I could imagine a bunch of uppity shithole nations that have been presuming to actually use placenames that are meaningful to themselves, rather than what we prefer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683.md?page=11)