On May 1, 2026, Donald Trump reiterated his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America”—a proposal which, he claims, was leaked to the press and provoked an immediate reaction in Mexico and its government.
Trump recounted a conversation he held with Claudia Sheinbaum, whom he described as a “refined woman” with an “elegant voice,” further noting that she was a ballet dancer.
During his remarks at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Trump proceeded to mimic her, reenacting an alleged plea:
“President, President—no, no, no! President, tell me you’re just joking. You’re not going to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico.”
In response to her insistence, Trump claimed to have confirmed his plans to her—a revelation that led him to conclude that he is currently “not very well-liked in Mexico.”
Donald Trump also mentioned that the current “President of Mexico” does not hold him in high regard at the moment, although in his account, he alternates between using masculine and feminine pronouns when referring to his communications with the Mexican government.
Almost simultaneously with these statements, President Claudia Sheinbaum delivered a forceful message from Palenque, Chiapas, during the inauguration of the “La Ceiba” Ecopark.
Sheinbaum’s response: “Sovereignty is not negotiable.”
