After boldly renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, President Donald Trump has unveiled the new name for a landmark location.
Specifically, the president plans to officially rename the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf.
The move will strengthen America’s ties with vital Middle Eastern allies while potentially infuriating Iran.
The “earth-shattering” announcement has been scheduled during his upcoming Saudi Arabia trip.
It also demonstrates President Trump’s commitment to prioritizing relationships with oil-rich Gulf states that share America’s opposition to Iranian aggression.
According to two U.S. officials speaking anonymously, the president intends to formalize what the American military has already been doing for years: referring to the body of water as the Arabian Gulf in official communications.
The announcement comes as part of a broader Middle East tour that includes visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Covering nearly 97,000 square miles, the Persian Gulf has been known by its current name since the 16th century.
However, many Arab nations in the region have long advocated for changing the name to Arabian Gulf or Gulf of Arabia, reflecting the ongoing tensions between these countries and Iran.
President Trump recently hinted at the move during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
He stated, “We’re going to have a very, very big announcement to make, like as big as it gets. And I won’t tell you on what…and it’s very positive.”
While President Trump has the authority to change how American officials refer to the Gulf, this decision does not alter international naming conventions.
The International Hydrographic Organization, which standardizes nautical charts and publications, still officially recognizes the body of water as the Persian Gulf.
The naming issue remains particularly sensitive for Iranians, who take great pride in their historical connection to the Persian Empire.
The Islamic Republic has fiercely defended the Persian Gulf designation, even threatening legal action against Google in 2012 for not properly labeling the waterway on its maps.
This is not the first time President Trump has taken such action. His administration previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
More recently, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the renaming of Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg.
Iran has historically reacted harshly to any attempts to change the name. In 2010, Iran warned airlines against using “Arabian Gulf” on in-flight monitors.
In 2017, when President Trump previously referred to the waterway as the Arabian Gulf, then-Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the American president to “study geography.”
The president’s upcoming Middle East trip aims to strengthen America’s position in the region by securing Saudi investment, addressing the Israel-Hamas conflict, and countering Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
By siding with Arab allies on this naming issue, President Trump is sending a clear message about which relationships America values most in the strategically crucial region.
The White House and National Security Council have not yet officially commented on the reported name change.
Still, sources indicate the announcement will come during President Trump’s highly anticipated visit to Saudi Arabia next week as part of his broader strategy to reset American relationships in the Middle East.
