White House Criticizes House Democrats Over Trump’s Gulf of America Name Change Efforts

White House Criticizes House Democrats Over Trump’s Gulf of America Name Change Efforts

FIRST ON FOX: The White House has intensified its criticism of Democratic lawmakers who are attempting to disrupt the House GOP’s plans to make President Donald Trump’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America permanent.

The House Rules Committee is currently deliberating a bill that would codify Trump’s controversial decision to formally refer to the body of water located along the U.S. Southeast coast as the Gulf of America.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly conveyed her disapproval, stating, “Democrats are so overtaken with Trump Derangement Syndrome and obsessed with obstructing the President’s agenda that they will always put America last,” to Fox News Digital.

In her remarks, Kelly emphasized President Trump’s perspective, asserting that the Gulf of America has historically served as an essential resource for the nation. She stated, “All future generations should be able to recognize this beautiful body of water as a sign of American greatness.”

Four Democratic representatives have introduced amendments aimed at altering the legislation, although the likelihood of their passage appears slim given the Republican majority on the committee.

Democratic Amendments Targeting Trump’s Decision

The first amendment, authored by Rep. Jared Huffman from California, seeks to reverse a similar decision made by Trump regarding the renaming of Mt. McKinley in Alaska. This mountain, the highest peak in North America, was renamed Mt. Denali during Barack Obama’s presidency, aligning the name with the indigenous peoples who originally inhabited the region.

Trump’s administration reinstated the name McKinley via an executive order on the first day of his second term in office earlier this year.

Additional Amendments from House Democrats

A second amendment proposed by Rep. Darren Soto of Florida aims to restrict Trump’s capacity to issue oil and gas drilling leases in the Gulf region.

In addition, Rep. Maxine Dexter from Oregon introduced an amendment that would prevent the Trump administration from retaliating against media outlets that continue to use the original name, the Gulf of Mexico.

Earlier this year, the White House blocked access to an Associated Press journalist who reported the name as the Gulf of Mexico, despite Trump’s executive order. A federal court subsequently ordered the White House to reverse this action last month.

The fourth amendment, led by Rep. Luz Rivas from California, proposes that the name change should not take effect until the Department of Interior conducts an assessment to determine its potential economic impact.

Rivas criticized the Gulf of America renaming as a “vanity project” that “accomplishes nothing,” in response to the White House’s statements. She remarked, “Millions of Americans are struggling because of President Trump’s economic policies, and Republicans in Congress have yet to put forth a legislative proposal that lowers the costs of groceries, protects healthcare, or lowers housing costs.”

Legislative Outlook for Trump’s Initiatives

The bill to make the name change permanent is expected to be put to a vote in the House later this week. This legislation is part of a broader effort by House Republicans to advance measures that would solidify many of Trump’s executive actions.

Trump’s decision to rename the gulf marked one of the initial actions in his second term, illustrating the administration’s commitment to establishing a lasting legacy tied to his policies.

Outreach efforts to the remaining Democratic offices were unsuccessful as they had not responded by the time of publication.

The Broader Context of Political Tensions

This ongoing legislative battle reflects the deepening political divide in Congress as Democrats and Republicans clash over Trump’s legacy and broader policy agendas. The White House’s staunch defense of the name change reveals the administration’s determination to assert its political narrative amid ongoing scrutiny and opposition.

As the situation unfolds, observers will be watching closely to see how these legislative efforts develop and what implications they may have for future governance and policy-making.