(The Center Square) – Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico to “the Gulf of America,” suggesting renaming the U.S.
Sheinbaum joked about the suggested name change while addressing Trump’s comments about the country at her morning news conference in Mexico City, showcasing a world map from 1607 to further her point.
“Mexican America, that sounds nice,” Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum noted that the early map, recognized internationally, covers North America as Mexican America and shows the Gulf of Mexico on the map marked 169 years ahead of the United States’ founding.
She teasingly suggested that states such as California and Texas could always revert to their former names, “America Mexicana.”
Trump suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico during a news conference from Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday. He described the proposed name as “beautiful” and “appropriate,” continuing that Mexico must stop allowing millions of people to pour into the U.S.
Sheinbaum said the future U.S. president is ill-informed, suggesting that Trump’s information was outdated, referencing former Mexican president Felipe Calderon, who was sitting president of Mexico from 2006 until 2012.
“Today in Mexico, the people govern,” President Sheinbaum said.
She confirmed that she remains optimistic over Mexico-US ties, telling reporters, “I still think we’re going to have a good relationship with Trump.”
Trump has also suggested buying Greenland and previously stated that U.S. economic security depends on controlling Greenland and the Panama Canal.