For over four centuries, the body of water that separates the United States from Mexico has been known as the Gulf of Mexico.However, President-elect Donald Trump has announced a bold plan to rename it the “Gulf of America,” claiming it has a “beautiful ring.” The proposed change is causing a stir, particularly among those who have long known the region by its current name.The announcement came Tuesday during a speech at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, where he outlined a number of initiatives for his upcoming presidency.Among them was the suggestion to rename the Gulf of Mexico, an iconic waterway that spans multiple countries, including the United States, Mexico, and Cuba.“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring,” Trump said in his speech, drawing mixed reactions.It turns out the federal government does indeed have the authority to alter the name of geographical locations. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has already instructed her staff to begin drafting legislation to formalize the name change.However, convincing other countries that share the Gulf—particularly Mexico—to adopt this new name could prove to be a significant challenge. On Fort Myers Beach, a community that sits on the Gulf Coast, residents are divided over the proposal. Some find the idea humorous or intriguing, while others feel it undermines the historical and cultural significance of the name.“What? Hold on, what? I mean, I don’t care. Can he do that? Is that a thing you can do?” asked Chris Fonseca, a local resident. Others, like Kathy Blazo, are more open to the idea. “It does hit a lot of our coastline, so I don’t know how Mexico feels, but it sounds like a good idea.”Gary Leonard, another local, called the move a display of Trump’s “ego and narcissism.” He said, “I want to call B.S. on this… It’s all about him, and it’s just ridiculous.”Allyson McLean, a Fort Myers Beach resident, had similar concerns.“Please, please. That’s just so ridiculous. It’s been the Gulf of Mexico for so many years,” she said. “There are so many more issues that need to be addressed. He’s wasting time with his trivial, silly Trumpisms.”“I think it’s a great idea. Time for a change. Go, Trump,” said Bryan Hamilton, a local who expressed support for the plan. The idea of renaming the Gulf of Mexico is not entirely new. In 2012, Representative Steve Holland of Mississippi introduced a state-level bill that proposed renaming the body of water to the “Gulf of America.”His bill, however, was largely viewed as a political joke aimed at poking fun at Republicans.This time, however, Trump’s intentions appear to be more serious.

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. —For over four centuries, the body of water that separates the United States from Mexico has been known as the Gulf of Mexico.

However, President-elect Donald Trump has announced a bold plan to rename it the “Gulf of America,” claiming it has a “beautiful ring.” The proposed change is causing a stir, particularly among those who have long known the region by its current name.

The announcement came Tuesday during a speech at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, where he outlined a number of initiatives for his upcoming presidency.

Among them was the suggestion to rename the Gulf of Mexico, an iconic waterway that spans multiple countries, including the United States, Mexico, and Cuba.

“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring,” Trump said in his speech, drawing mixed reactions.

It turns out the federal government does indeed have the authority to alter the name of geographical locations. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has already instructed her staff to begin drafting legislation to formalize the name change.

However, convincing other countries that share the Gulf—particularly Mexico—to adopt this new name could prove to be a significant challenge.

On Fort Myers Beach, a community that sits on the Gulf Coast, residents are divided over the proposal. Some find the idea humorous or intriguing, while others feel it undermines the historical and cultural significance of the name.

“What? Hold on, what? I mean, I don’t care. Can he do that? Is that a thing you can do?” asked Chris Fonseca, a local resident.

Others, like Kathy Blazo, are more open to the idea. “It does hit a lot of our coastline, so I don’t know how Mexico feels, but it sounds like a good idea.”

Gary Leonard, another local, called the move a display of Trump’s “ego and narcissism.” He said, “I want to call B.S. on this… It’s all about him, and it’s just ridiculous.”

Allyson McLean, a Fort Myers Beach resident, had similar concerns.

“Please, please. That’s just so ridiculous. It’s been the Gulf of Mexico for so many years,” she said. “There are so many more issues that need to be addressed. He’s wasting time with his trivial, silly Trumpisms.”

“I think it’s a great idea. Time for a change. Go, Trump,” said Bryan Hamilton, a local who expressed support for the plan.

The idea of renaming the Gulf of Mexico is not entirely new. In 2012, Representative Steve Holland of Mississippi introduced a state-level bill that proposed renaming the body of water to the “Gulf of America.”

His bill, however, was largely viewed as a political joke aimed at poking fun at Republicans.

This time, however, Trump’s intentions appear to be more serious.