The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Friday that the Gulf of Mexico has been renamed the Gulf of America and the name of North America's highest peak, Alaska's Denali, has been changed back to Mount McKinley, both moves in response a controversial executive order President Trump signed it after taking office.
The Interior Department said in a news release that the name change "reaffirms the nation's commitment to preserving America's extraordinary heritage and ensuring that future generations of Americans celebrate the legacy of its heroes and historic assets."
The U.S. Geographic Names Board is now tasked with updating "official federal nomenclature in the Geographic Names Information System to reflect these changes and be effective immediately for federal use," the department added.
While the Gulf of America will apply to the federal reference, other countries will not be required to recognize the designation.
Mexico and the United States have nearly equal miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. According to the U.S. Department of State, the Gulf maritime border between the United States and Mexico begins at the center of the mouth of the Rio Grande, wherever it is located, and extends along a fixed line. To a large extent, the United States has maritime jurisdiction over its portion of the Gulf of Mexico, while Mexico has jurisdiction over it.
during the presidential transition Trump reveals his plans Change the name of the bay. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded hold a press conference Standing in front of a 17th-century world map, she jokingly suggested that North America should be renamed "Mexican America."
In 2015, then-President Barack Obama renamed Mount Denali to Denali, the traditional name for Alaska Natives. Although the federal name is Mount McKinley, Alaska has long known it informally as Mount McKinley.
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski last month criticized Trump's plan to change Mount Denali's name.
"There is no comparison in the name Denali, North America's highest peak, was given by the Coyokon Athabascan people of Alaska," Murkowski said in a statement. "For years, I have advocated in Congress for restoration The proper name for this majestic mountain range to honor Alaska’s first inhabitants who lived on this land for thousands of years is an issue that should not be re-argued.”