DeSantis embraces ‘Gulf of America’ language even before Trump order

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis referred to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” ​​in a state executive order Monday, even before President Trump took presidential action to rename the body of water .

Mr. Trump said during his inaugural speech that one of his first actions at the White House would be to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, but he has yet to follow through on his promise hours later the start of his second term. That pledge during his inaugural address sparked audible laughter in the Capitol rotunda from Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state and two-time Democratic presidential candidate.

But that was no laughing matter for Mr. DeSantis, who attended the inauguration Monday and sat in the overflow room of Emancipation Hall, where he watched the proceedings on a video screen with others Republican governors. He did not wait for Mr. Trump to take presidential action before moving forward alone in a first act of self-implementation that seemed indicative of how Republicans seeking to please Mr. Trump might act as he outlines his program.

In an executive order describing an impending winter storm heading toward the Florida Panhandle, Mr. DeSantis responded to Mr. Trump in his official language by declaring a state of emergency in his state.