Mexico’s Sheinbaum Proposes ‘Mexican America’ Name for North America

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday humorously suggested renaming North America “Mexican America” during a press conference, responding to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump‘s proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Sheinbaum referenced a 1607 map that labeled the region as “Mexican America,” emphasizing its historical significance.

“Mexican America, that sounds nice,” Sheinbaum quipped, standing alongside former culture minister Jose Alfonso Suarez del Real and historical maps. Suarez del Real explained that the term “Mexican America” has been recognized since the 17th century as a name for the northern part of the American continent.

The proposal came in response to Trump’s recent comments about renaming the Gulf of Mexico, a body of water that has been internationally recognized for centuries. Suarez del Real noted that the Gulf’s name has been a key maritime navigational reference for hundreds of years.

Trump, during a Tuesday press conference, outlined an expansionist agenda that included potential control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, alongside the Gulf of Mexico renaming. Sheinbaum dismissed claims that Mexico is “run by cartels,” asserting that “the people are in charge” and that her administration is addressing security challenges.

Despite the diplomatic back-and-forth, Sheinbaum expressed optimism about future U.S.-Mexico relations. “I think there will be a good relationship,” she said. “President Trump has his way of communicating.”

The press conference highlighted Sheinbaum’s efforts to assert Mexico’s historical and cultural identity while addressing contemporary political tensions. The use of historical maps underscored her point, drawing attention to the region’s long-standing nomenclature.