Joy Behar, co-host of ABC’s *The View*, couldn’t contain her outrage after President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. In a baffling display of woke indignation, Behar launched into a tirade, calling it inappropriate for the President to focus on renaming the body of water. But it seems the real reason for her anger was her complete misinterpretation of the historical context and a deep-seated need to attack anything related to American pride.
Trump’s executive order, signed on February 9, 2025, declared the day “Gulf of America Day” and officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico. In his statement, Trump emphasized the importance of honoring American history, saying, “This action is in part due to the Gulf’s long history as an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation.” The move is part of Trump’s broader mission to restore American pride and to highlight the greatness of the country, a message that resonates strongly with patriotic Americans.
Yet, Behar, ever the defender of left-wing talking points, couldn’t resist lashing out. In typical fashion, she invoked tired arguments about “wokeness,” complaining that America was named after Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer. “This country was settled by indigenous people, right? And yet they named the country after an Italian White man, Amerigo Vespucci,” Behar claimed. “Why was it named after a White man if it was settled by indigenous people?”
But Behar’s historical revisionism failed to gain traction, even among her own liberal colleagues. Co-host Sarah Haines stepped in to calmly point out that the world’s naming conventions often vary by country and culture. “The body of water south of China, which much of the world calls the South China Sea, China calls it the South Sea, Vietnam calls it the Eastern Sea, and the Philippines has designated parts of it the West Philippines Sea. So it happens,” Haines explained. The historical context of naming places and their significance simply doesn’t fit into Behar’s narrative of victimhood.
Even more surprising was Alyssa Farah Griffin’s support for the name change. As a former Trump White House official, Farah Griffin voiced her approval of the renaming, calling it a more “inclusive” term that recognizes the shared geography of the Americas. “North America, Mexico, and the United States are part of the Americas. It would be petty if he called it the Gulf of the United States,” Farah Griffin said. “These are the things Donald Trump does to trigger reaction from the media.” And indeed, Behar and her colleagues at *The View* took the bait — and their hysterics only underscored the frustration that many Americans feel with the politically correct establishment.
While liberals were triggered by Trump’s bold move, conservatives praised it. Texas Congressman Brandon Gill celebrated the renaming, sharing a post that read, “IT’S OFFICIAL on Google Maps: The Gulf of Mexico is now the GULF OF AMERICA! A powerful reminder that under President Trump, America leads boldly and unapologetically. Welcome to the Golden Age 🇺🇸.” For many, the renaming represents a reclaiming of American pride and an effort to shift away from the globalist mindset that too often undermines the nation’s legacy.
Behar’s outrage, rather than being a reflection of thoughtful criticism, only exposed her commitment to the left’s anti-American narrative. As Trump continues to push for a restoration of national pride and cultural unity, it’s clear that the Gulf of America is just the beginning of his campaign to reassert American greatness.
