Donald Trump Presidential Parade: FULL SPEECH
President Donald Trump speaks before a crowd of supporters at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. after he was sworn-in as president on Jan. 20, 2025. The president signed several executive orders at the event.
President Donald Trump Executive Orders
President Donald Trump signed his first round of executive orders on Monday at the Capital One Arena, shortly after being sworn in as president. Addressing nearly 20,000 cheering supporters, Trump announced plans to take immediate action on the U.S.-Mexico border, promote oil drilling, and rename geographical landmarks.
Among the executive orders, Trump proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and reverting Mount Denali’s name back to Mount McKinley. But is it even possible to rename such historically significant geographical locations?
Here’s how it could work:
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Im
Gulf of America: Can the name be changed?
What we know:
The short answer: Maybe.
When a body of water lies within a country’s boundaries, name changes can be easier to implement because international agreement isn’t always required.
For instance, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which oversees naming conventions for bodies of water worldwide, allows for differences in naming based on national preferences. This means countries may refer to the same location by different names.
For landmarks in the U.S., the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) oversees the approval of official names for geographical features within the U.S. However, the process is subject to these rules:
A place cannot be named after a person unless they’ve been deceased for at least five years and have a significant association with the location.Names considered derogatory toward a racial, ethnic, gender, or religious group are prohibited.
The BGN will only consider name-change proposals that are also being reviewed by Congress.
How could it work?
Dig deeper:
The executive order, signed Jan. 20, gives the Secretary of the Interior 30 days to start the process of renaming the Gulf and Mount Denali. This includes reviewing the rules and submitting the proposal for consideration.
For international waters like the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico’s agreement isn’t required.
The IHO notes that different countries often use different names for the same body of water. For example:
The Sea of Japan is referred to by other countries as the East Sea.The Rio Grande, which forms part of the U.S.-Mexico border, is known as “Río Bravo” in Mexico.
If approved, the U.S. could begin updating maps and official documents to reflect the name “Gulf of America,” while Mexico and other countries may continue using “Gulf of Mexico.”
Why does Trump want to rename the Gulf?
In an official statement, the White House said the Gulf is critical to America’s trade, natural resources, and tourism, playing a vital role in shaping the country’s economy. Trump argued that renaming the Gulf would reflect its importance to the U.S.
What they’re saying:
“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. The Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate,” said Donald Trump.
Why does Trump want to rename Mount Denali? 
A view of Mount Denali or Mount McKinley, highest point in the United States, in Denali National Park, Alaska, 2003. (Photo by Buddy Mays/Getty Images).
In another executive order, Trump proposed reverting the name of North America’s tallest mountain, Mount Denali, back to Mount McKinley. The mountain, located in Alaska, was originally named in honor of President William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States.
In 2015, former President Barack Obama restored the mountain’s native name. Denali means “the high one” or “the great one” in the Athabascan language. Alaska Natives and many residents had advocated for the change since the 1970s, while some in Ohio—McKinley’s home state—opposed it.
What they’re saying:
Trump spoke about McKinley’s legacy as justification for the name restoration. “We will honor President McKinley, who made our country rich through tariffs and economic vision,” Trump said.
377869 73: William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States serving from 1897 to 1901. (Photo by National Archive/Newsmakers)
Who was President William McKinley?
The backstory:
William McKinley served as the 25th President of the United States, beginning his first term in 1897. Former president McKinley was a Republican from Ohio and was known for his leadership during a time of economic and military growth.
McKinley was assassinated early in his second term in 1901 while at a public event in Buffalo, New York. He was greeting people in a receiving line when he was shot twice in the chest. Doctors initially expected him to recover, but McKinley’s condition worsened from gangrene caused by a lack of blood flow to his tissues.
What they’re saying:
According to the McKinley Museum, he is remembered for “leading the nation to victory in the Spanish-American War and raising protective tariffs to promote American industry.”
An 1826 map of North America includes the United States, Mexico, and Rupert’s Land. Held by the Hudson Bay Company from 1670-1870, Rupert’s Land was sold to Canada in 1870 for 300,000 pounds sterling. (Photo by Michael Maslan/Corbis/VCG via Getty Ima
Why is it called the Gulf of Mexico?
The Gulf of Mexico has been known by that name for more than four centuries. The term is believed to originate from the Native American city of Mexico. Historical maps from the late 1500s, including those by English explorer Sir Francis Drake, use the name.
Other names, such as “Sea of the North” and “Gulf of New Spain,” have appeared throughout history, but “Gulf of Mexico” has remained the most common name.
Has anyone tried this before?
In 2011, a Mississippi lawmaker proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, specifically for the parts of water that touchs U.S. shores. The proposal didn’t pass and was reported as a political move to highlight immigration issues.
This topic has resurfaced in the media, with figures like Stephen Colbert joking after the Gulf oil spill that “We broke it, we bought it.”
The debate over Mount Denali’s name dates back decades, with Alaska and Ohio arguing over its designation since the 1970s.
Timeline:
The Secretary of the Interior has 30 days to assess the rules and get things approved. If successful, the Gulf’s name could be officially changed on U.S. maps and contracts, while the global community may choose to maintain its existing designation, depending on the decision of the IHO.
The Source: Information in this article comes from a statement released by the White House, information from Donald Trump’s inauguration speech, International Hydrographic Organization, U.S. Board on Geographic Names, reporting from the Associated Press, McKinley Museum, National Park Service and the Government of the United States of Mexico.
Donald J. TrumpInauguration DayPoliticsTexas Politics
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Publish date : 2025-01-21 04:25:00
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Author : theamericannews
Publish date : 2025-01-21 18:26:27
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