One of Trump’s first executive orders is entitled ‘Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness’
What’s in a name? A lot, according to President Donald Trump, especially when it comes to putting America first.
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In his inaugural speech on Monday, Trump repeated his wish to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
Does he have the legal authority to make these changes? Could he face pushback? The answer to both questions seems to be yes and no.
Will Trump face pushback in renaming the Gulf of Mexico?
“A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” the U.S. president said on Monday shortly after he was sworn in.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a nation-state has sovereignty of the waters extending 12 nautical miles from its coastline. Within that area it can enforce laws and regulations.
Meanwhile, however, there are three nation-states in the Gulf region, and as such, the U.S. doesn’t get to call the shots exclusively on the name of the body of water for all three.
That means Trump can insist the Gulf is renamed the Gulf of America on official U.S. documents, but Mexico, Cuba, or indeed the rest of the world, cannot be compelled to follow suit.
Can international differences over naming lead to disputes?
Not exactly po-tay-toe – po-tah-toe.
Who regulates American geographical names?
For the most part, nations have an official internal organization that maintains a registry of geographic names.
Then in 1947, that authority was further clarified by Congress in an act “to provide a central authority for standardizing geographic names for the purpose of eliminating duplication in standardizing names among the Federal departments, and for other purposes.”
Why change Denali mountain back to Mt. McKinley?
Why was it changed to Denali in the first place?
How are U.S. geographical names changed?
In taking its legal responsibility seriously, the BGN discourages name changes “merely to correct or re-establish historical usage.” Generally, the BGN explains, the most important policy regarding names is local use and acceptance. Local stakeholders are invited to review a name change proposal and provide recommendations.
Will Trump get his wish?
Name changes on maps and official documents will likely come soon after.
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