United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) signed a proclamation declaring February 9 as the first U.S. Gulf Day, celebrating the renaming of the region formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico. Trump was heading to New Orleans for Super Bowl 59 and signed the declaration when Air Force One was passing over the area he was renaming. This happened after the signing of Executive Order 14172 on January 20, 2025, which ordered the renaming of the U.S. continental shelf area.
As part of the order, the Secretary of the Interior was instructed to take the necessary action to rename the area that encircled Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and extend to the maritime border with Mexico and Cuba. In a statement President Trump explained his decision: "I took this action partly because, as stated in that order, "[that] area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico has long been an integral asset to our growing nation and remains an indelible part of the United States." "
"Today, I am deeply honored to recognize February 9, 2025, as America's Gulf Day for the first time. "On January 20, 2025, I signed Executive Order 14172 ("Restoring Names Honoring American Greatness"). In addition to other actions, that executive order authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to revoke 43 U.S.C. Attorney General. The statement said that sections 364 to 364f, "shall take all appropriate action by the State of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida to rename the U.S. continental shelf area bounded to the northeast, north, and northwest as 'the Gulf of America' and extends to the maritime border with Mexico and Cuba." It was formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico. "
On Sunday, the president traveled to the Gulf of America for the first time since the name change, the White House said that "as my administration restores American pride in the history of American greatness, it is appropriate for our great nation to come together and celebrate this momentous occasion and renaming of the Gulf of America." "