Kathrine Frich
He told the crowd she had called him directly to complain.
Allied nations normally settle their differences quietly.
But in modern politics, international disputes often play out on loud public stages.
Sometimes things get surprisingly personal. The latest clash over a major body of water just reached a new level of awkwardness.
A controversial rebrand
Donald Trump sparked confusion upon returning to the Oval Office when he officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico. He rebranded the massive waterway as the Gulf of America to boost his version of national pride.
Many mapmakers and organizations simply ignored the change. But the sudden decision deeply frustrated officials across the southern border.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum previously mocked the move, suggesting the United States should perhaps be called Mexican America. Last spring, her government even sued Google after the search giant adopted the new label according to the Irish Star.
Mocking the president
The diplomatic friction resurfaced during a public event in Maryland. Trump visited on Tuesday to unveil a new shipbuilding unit. That is when he decided to share his version of a phone call with Sheinbaum.
He told the crowd she had called him directly to complain about the sudden name change. Then, he launched into a strange, mocking imitation of the country’s first female president.
“I got a call from the President of Mexico,” Trump said, according to the Mirror US. “She was a very nice woman, beautiful woman, beautiful voice. And she said ‘No, no President’. Very elegant. ‘Please, please tell me it’s not so’.”
He claimed he dismissed her concerns entirely, shutting the conversation down. He told the audience: “We changed the name from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, it is so, I’m sorry.”
Swift online backlash
The unusual performance quickly went viral. It immediately drew sharp criticism online, as viewers expressed utter disbelief at the American leader’s conduct.
One user criticized his “rambling gibberish” and described him as “So boorish and boring!”. Another commenter simply concluded: “The man has well and truly lost it.”
Critics highlighted the stark difference in their educational backgrounds. One person noted: “The current President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, holds a Ph.D. in energy engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).”
They followed up with a sharp jab, adding: “While our president lies about his academic achievements.” Another observer pointed to the underlying sexism. “He really tells on himself with the ‘beautiful woman’ part every single time,” they said.
