Move FM Global News

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” following an order by President Donald Trump.

However, the bill is unlikely to pass in the Senate.

The vote was close, with 211 in favor and 206 against. The Gulf borders five southern U.S. states and parts of Mexico, and it connects to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

If the Senate also approves the change, it would make it harder for future presidents to undo Trump’s order. Although Republicans have a 53-47 edge in the Senate, most bills need at least 60 votes to move forward.

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a strong supporter of Trump, introduced the bill.

The name “Gulf of Mexico” has been in use for over 400 years and is recognized worldwide, although U.S. presidents can change geographic names for federal purposes.