Cliff Notes – Trump plans to rename the Persian Gulf

Change in Geographic Naming: President Donald Trump is set to announce a shift in terminology, stating that the U.S. will now refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or Gulf of Arabia during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia.
Political Context: This change aligns with advocacy from Arab nations for a new designation, while Iran has historically opposed such alterations, highlighting ongoing geopolitical tensions regarding the region’s naming conventions.
Previous Naming Initiative: The announcement follows Trump’s earlier declaration regarding the Gulf of Mexico, which he referred to as the Gulf of America, indicating a broader trend in his administration’s approach to geographic nomenclature.

Trump plans to rename the Persian Gulf

Trump plans to announce the US will call the Persian Gulf the Arabian Gulf, officials tell AP.

President Donald Trump speaks before Steve Witkoff is sworn as special envoy during a ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to announce while on his trip to Saudi Arabia next week that the U.S. will now refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia, two U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Arab nations have pushed for a change to the geographic name of the body of water off the southern coast of Iran, while Iran has maintained its historic ties to the gulf.

The U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. The White House and National Security Council didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The move comes several months after Trump said the U.S. would refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.