Florida House Supports Renaming Gulf to 'America's Gulf' in Schools

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Florida House approved legislation to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, in accordance with a directive from President Donald Trump.

'Designation entails far more than just a mere alteration of names.'

The Florida House passed two bills along party lines to redesignate the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, based on an order from ex-President Donald Trump. The first bill (HB 549) requires modifications to educational and governmental geographical resources. The second bill (HB 575) amends 52 parts of state legislation to incorporate this new designation.

It’s still uncertain how swiftly state agencies and educational institutions will adopt these modifications or what the financial implications might be. Furthermore, the effects on federal maps and the general adoption of this alteration beyond Florida remain ambiguous.

Since the 1550s, the Gulf of Mexico has retained its current name. In response to President Donald Trump’s January 20 executive order titled “Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness,” which advocated for changing it to the Gulf of America, state entities like Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have started revising their documents accordingly.

Proponents contend that this alteration is an act of patriotism that strengthens America’s dominance, whereas opponents view it as mere political maneuvering that overlooks factual history. This situation has ignited a wider discussion about the impact of political sway on the formation of historical narratives and educational content.

Representative Juan Carlos Porras, a Republican from Miami who introduced a bill (HB 549) aimed at updating educational resources and state geographical materials to reflect the new name, stated that the proposal does not entail revising history.

Porras stated, “This new title signifies far more than just a change in name; it asserts that the U.S. stands as a leading example of democratic values within the free world.”

However, Representative Felicia Robinson from Miami Gardens stated that the bill prioritizes political statements.

Robinson stated, "It shouldn't be permissible for an individual, regardless of whether they are our president or not, to alter history through mere verbal statements."

Rep. Meg Weinberger, a Republican from Palm Beach Gardens who co-authored the legislation to overhaul state statutes, described the modifications as a "significant move that prioritizes America," demonstrating backing for "our beloved president."

However, Representative Mike Gottlieb from Davie stated that these modifications would make historical records "irrelevant."

Gottlieb stated, “We should acknowledge that location names carry significant historical weight.” He added, “It’s crucial for history to be presented accurately and honestly—not as an exercise in assigning guilt—but so we grasp our past and prevent revisiting our most tragic episodes.”

The name alteration was part of a January 20 Trump executive order named “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.”

"As the region previously called the Gulf of Mexico was crucially important to our rapidly growing nation, it continues to be an essential component of America," the directive stated.

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