What Is Gulf Of America Meme? Why Does Google Now Say Gulf Of America?
The Gulf Of America meme began as a political remark but turned into one of the internet’s favorite moments of satire in 2025. It all started when former President Donald Trump suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, triggering confusion, mockery, and meme after meme.
The moment captured attention not just for its absurdity, but also for how quickly it spread across platforms like Reddit, TikTok, and Twitter.
In this article, Grumpy Sharks will share with you what it is, why it was called Gulf of America and why it became a meme.
What is the Gulf of America meme?
The Gulf of America meme revolves around President Trump’s January 7, 2025 declaration that he would officially rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
The meme typically uses reaction images, modified maps, and sarcastic captions to satirize this bold—and often mocked—rebranding proposal.
Why was it called the Gulf of America?
On January 7, 2025, during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump stated:
“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring.”
He framed the change as a symbol of American strength and ownership. But the internet wasn’t buying it—at least, not without a joke. Within hours, the press clip was shared widely, mostly alongside sarcastic captions, remixed maps, and memes poking fun at the idea.
By February 11, 2025, Google Maps implemented the change. For U.S. users, the body of water was labeled simply as “Gulf of America.” In other regions, it appeared as “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).” Screenshots of the map spread fast, fueling more confusion and making it feel like the joke had become real. People debated whether it was official, a glitch, or a political stunt taken too far.
How the Gulf Of America Meme Spread Across the Internet
The Gulf Of America meme became a full-blown trend within hours. On X (formerly Twitter), user @ProseccoLiquido posted a meme captioned “Gulf of Dumbfuckistan is better,” gathering hundreds of likes and reposts.
The same day, Redditor sassystew posted a thread titled “Trump wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico” to r/BoomersBeingFools, sparking over 480 upvotes and 200 comments.
Meanwhile, TikTok users joined in. A viral video by @carlos_eduardo_espina mocked the announcement with a facepalm-worthy caption:
“Quiere cambiar el nombre del Golfo de México al Golfo de America.”
The post reached over 124,000 views and thousands of likes within a few hours.
But not all reactions were negative. Some embraced the chaos. A popular meme by @BrandieWithABee showed Trump dancing after changing the map’s label to “Gulf of America.” That video alone got over 752,000 views.
Why It Became a Meme
People love mocking rebranding attempts—especially when they involve changing something as globally known as the Gulf of Mexico. The name swap felt like an unnecessary flex, perfect for parody. Add in the fact that Google Maps actually updated it, and it instantly crossed into meme territory.
It was also highly remixable. Internet users slapped the new name on world maps, U.S. geography tests, parody news headlines, and fake travel ads. The name itself—Gulf of America—became punchline material.
FAQs
Why does Google now say Gulf of America?
Google follows official U.S. government standards for place names. After Trump’s executive order on January 20, 2025 (Executive Order 14172) renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) officially updated the name. Consequently, Google Maps now displays “Gulf of America” for users in the U.S., and shows “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)” for international users.
What do Mexicans call the Gulf of Mexico?
In Mexico and Spanish-speaking countries, the body of water continues to be known as “Golfo de México.” Google Maps reflects this by displaying “Gulf of Mexico” (or “Golfo de México”) for users in Mexico, preserving its historical and cultural name .
Will it say Gulf of America?
- In the United States: Yes—Google Maps shows “Gulf of America” for U.S.-based users and devices.
- In Mexico: No—instead, users there see “Gulf of Mexico.”
- Worldwide: Other regions see a hybrid label—“Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)”, ensuring clarity and neutrality
Final Thoughts
The Gulf Of America meme shows just how fast absurdity becomes entertainment online. What was intended as a patriotic rebranding ended up inspiring jokes, remixes, political roasts, and viral videos. Whether you’re laughing at the name or the idea behind it, one thing’s for sure: the internet won’t let it go any time soon.
At Grumpy Sharks, we live for these chaotic internet gems. Gulf of America? Sounds like a joke that floated all the way to the top of the map.
