Trump muses about renaming Gulf of Mexico 'Gulf of America'

(The Hill) - President-elect Trump on Tuesday told reporters he wants to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America as he bemoaned that Mexico was taking advantage of the United States on trade and immigration.

"We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America," Trump said. "What a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate. It’s appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country."

Trump made the comments as he complained that the U.S. had a large trade deficit with both Mexico and Canada. He has raised similar concerns since winning November's election and vowed to impose steep tariffs on both neighboring countries.

Both outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo have spoken with Trump in recent months about his tariff threats.

Trump on Tuesday bashed Mexico as a "very dangerous place" that was "essentially run by the cartels."

He suggested Canada merge with the U.S. after Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday.

The Gulf of Mexico, which covers more than half a million square miles, first showed up on European maps in the 1500s.