‘I Would’ve Been Killed’: Trump Reveals He Nearly Picked a More ‘Ridiculous’ Name for the 'Gulf of America'

The Inquisitr

On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, President Trump held a White House press briefing to mark the one-year anniversary of his second term. During the wide-ranging event, he addressed the 2025 renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and jokingly admitted that he had considered an even more personal name for the body of water.  The "Gulf of Trump" Joke While discussing the administration's "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness" initiative, the President remarked that the "Gulf of America" was a natural choice given the U.S. shoreline, but teased that he had nearly gone a step further.  The "Kill" Joke: He claimed he once thought about calling it the "Gulf of Trump," but jokingly said he "would be killed" if he did so [00:24].  Staff Advice: He noted that his team had advised him the name might not "look too good," despite his personal feeling that it had a "good ring" to it [00:33].  Shoreline Justification: He justified the existing "Gulf of America" name by claiming that the U.S. controls 92% of the shoreline, while Mexico only accounts for about 8% [00:14].  Context: The "Gulf of America" Transition The joke follows a year of significant geographic and political shifts regarding the region:  Executive Order 14172: Signed on January 20, 2025, this order officially directed all federal agencies—including NOAA and the Department of the Interior—to replace "Gulf of Mexico" with "Gulf of America" in all federal documents and maps.  Associated Press (AP) Lawsuit: The name change remains a point of contention with major media outlets. The AP has famously refused to adopt the new nomenclature, leading to an ongoing legal battle after the White House restricted the outlet's access to certain events in 2025 for its refusal to use the "official" federal name.  Public Perception: While the President declared February 9, 2025, as "Gulf of America Day," 2026 polling continues to show that the traditional "Gulf of Mexico" name remains the predominant term used by the general public and international organizations.

Transcript

00:00President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he briefly considered renaming the Gulf of Mexico

00:04the Gulf of Trump before settling on the Gulf of America, citing potential backlash as the

00:09reason for abandoning the idea. Speaking at a press conference, Trump explained his reasoning

00:13while stepping to the podium after press secretary Caroline Levitt.

00:17I said, why? Why is it the Gulf of Mexico? It should be the Gulf of America, Trump said.

00:23He added that he initially favored naming it after himself but reconsidered.

00:27I was going to call it the Gulf of Trump but I thought that I would be killed if I did that,

00:31he said. Trump said advisors warned him the name would not be well received.

00:36My people worked so hard. Sir, I don't think it'll look too good, he recalled. He added that he

00:42ultimately decided against the idea. The remarks came during an extended appearance in the White

00:48House briefing room where Trump spoke for nearly an hour. During the briefing, he displayed photographs

00:52of individuals he said were arrested in Minnesota and reviewed a prepared list of what he described

00:57as accomplishments from his administration. Trump highlighted executive orders he has signed

01:01and efforts to expand law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C. Immigration remained a central focus,

01:07with the president emphasizing deportations of individuals his administration has labeled as criminals.

01:13Foreign policy received less attention, despite ongoing tensions with European leaders

01:17related to Trump's statements about Greenland.

01:19At one point, Trump compared deported immigrants to the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, saying they made

01:27the group look like the sweetest people on earth before pausing to praise the organization.

01:32I like the Hells Angels, Trump said. They voted for me. They protected me, actually.

01:38Trump has previously appeared publicly with former Hells Angels leader Chuck Zito, including at a Manhattan

01:44courthouse last year. It remains unclear whether the group has ever provided formal security services.

01:51Later in the briefing, Trump discussed signing an executive order aimed at reopening mental institutions.

01:56He recounted childhood memories of walking past a psychiatric hospital in Queens with his mother,

02:00referencing Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, which remains operational and has served multiple roles

02:05over the years, including a temporary migrant shelter. Share your thoughts in the comment.

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