President Sheinbaum trolls Trump over Gulf of Mexico remark, suggests calling US 'Mexican America'

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reacted with sarcasm on Wednesday (January 8) to US President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

Speaking during her daily press briefing, Sheinbaum stood before a map and dryly suggested renaming North America as “América Mexicana,” or Mexican America, citing an 1814 document that predates Mexico’s constitution.

“That sounds nice, no?” she said with a wry tone, adding that the Gulf of Mexico has carried its name since 1607.

Her remark quickly went viral on social media. It also offered a glimpse into how Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, might approach her relationship with Trump, who has promised mass deportations and steep tariffs on trading partners, including Mexico.

Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, managed to work closely with Trump despite political differences. López Obrador’s administration, under US pressure, implemented measures to block migrants heading north— a move Trump praised.

Analysts have questioned whether Sheinbaum, a leftist scientist lacking her predecessor’s populist style, can establish a similar rapport.

“Humour can be a good tactic— it projects strength, which is what Trump responds to,” said Brian Winter, vice president of the Council of the Americas. “But she knows it won’t work on everything. Trump’s administration will demand serious engagement on immigration, drugs, and trade.”

Sheinbaum has already addressed Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariff on Mexican imports, warning that Mexico would impose reciprocal measures if such taxes are enacted. She described the plan as “unacceptable” and said it would harm both economies by causing inflation and job losses.

On immigration, Sheinbaum has taken a more measured stance. After initially advocating for the deportation of migrants directly to their home countries, she later suggested Mexico might accept deportees from other nations but could limit it to specific nationalities or request compensation.

With inputs from agencies