Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo wasted no time responding to President-elect Donald Trump’s recent suggestion to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” During a press conference on Wednesday, Sheinbaum stood in front of a historical map from 1607, which labeled most of North America as “Mexican America.”
Gesturing to the map, Sheinbaum smiled and said, “Why don’t we call it Mexican America? It sounds pretty, no?” Her pointed remark served as a lighthearted but firm rebuke of Trump’s provocative proposal.
Trump, during a recent event, said, “We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory.” He neglected to acknowledge that the Gulf of Mexico has held its name since before the U.S. was founded.
Sheinbaum also addressed Trump’s comment that Mexico is “essentially run by the cartels,” responding firmly, “With all due respect, in Mexico, the people rule.” She emphasized that her government will continue to defend Mexico’s sovereignty as a “free, independent, and sovereign country.”
The Mexican president also called attention to the issue of U.S. firearms being smuggled into Mexico, noting that 75% of guns seized in the country are trafficked from the United States. “We are very interested in stopping the entry of U.S. firearms into Mexico,” she said.
Trump’s remarks about Mexico, including his assertion that the country must stop “allowing millions of people to pour into our country,” have reignited tensions between the two nations. His history of making inflammatory statements about Mexico includes threats to raise tariffs and previous clashes with Mexican leaders.
Sheinbaum, however, maintained a measured tone, stating she expects to have “good relations” with Trump despite his provocative rhetoric.
This exchange mirrors past disputes between Trump and Mexican leaders. In 2016, former Mexican President Vicente Fox famously responded to Trump’s insistence that Mexico would pay for a border wall by saying, “I’m not going to pay for that [expletive] wall. He should pay for it. He’s got the money.”
