President Donald Trump, speaking Friday along the Gulf of Mexico at the Port of Corpus Christi, opened his remarks with an extended argument for renaming the body of water the “Gulf of America,” claiming the United States controls about “92%” of it compared with Mexico.
The assertion — which Trump presented as justification for changing the name — is misleading.
The Gulf of Mexico is bordered by three countries: the United States, Mexico and Cuba. It is an international body of water governed by maritime law, and no country “owns” it outright. While the United States has a long Gulf coastline, Mexico’s Gulf shoreline is also extensive, and the basin itself is shared internationally. Trump did not cite a source for his “92%” figure.
Trump has promoted the terminology previously, and the White House issued a 2025 proclamation referring to a “Gulf of America Day.” However, the name remains Gulf of Mexico in international geographic standards, treaties, nautical charts and global usage.
Trump returned to the topic several times during his opening remarks, saying, “We have 92%,” while acknowledging Mexico “was there first.” He also suggested Mexico was “fine” with the idea, though he provided no evidence.
After the naming comments, Trump pivoted to energy and infrastructure, praising dredging work at the Port of Corpus Christi and claiming credit for projects and economic gains that span multiple administrations.
Port project: initiated during Trump era, completed with Biden-era funding
Trump said he approved federal funding to deepen and modernize the port and suggested the Biden administration tried to cut funding.
The Port of Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project advanced during Trump’s first term after Congress authorized funding and agreements were signed in 2018 between the port and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
However, construction continued through the Biden administration, and the channel deepening to 54 feet was completed in 2025. The port also received additional federal grants during Biden’s presidency, including more than $100 million in 2024 funding for infrastructure and environmental improvements.
Gas prices and inflation claims lack context
Trump said gasoline locally was “just less than… $2.30,” a figure lower than widely tracked regional averages at the time. He also repeated his claim that inflation under former President Joe Biden was the worst “in the history of our country,” though federal data show the 2022 peak was the highest in about 40 years, not all time.
Oil production and drilling claims
Trump credited his administration for increased oil output and record natural gas production since his inauguration. While production has remained historically strong, growth trends were already projected before he took office and are influenced heavily by global markets and long-term investment cycles.
He also said Biden “slashed new leases for drilling by 95%,” a statistic referring to federal leasing levels compared with prior periods, not overall U.S. production, which rose during Biden’s presidency largely because drilling occurs on private land and existing leases.
Keystone XL and broader energy narrative
Trump again criticized Biden’s cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline permit, though the project was a proposed expansion and did not affect the existing Keystone pipeline system already operating.
The Port of Corpus Christi — now the nation’s largest crude oil export gateway — has grown over more than a decade due to the shale boom, private investment and federal infrastructure support across multiple presidencies, making it a focal point for Trump’s messaging about U.S. energy dominance.
