The Gulf of America Blunder: A Tale of Geography, Sewage, and Political Theater

When a Congresswoman’s Proposal Goes Viral for All the Wrong Reasons

Imagine a U.S. Congresswoman advocating to rename a major body of water to assert American dominance—only to get the geography spectacularly wrong. That’s exactly what happened when Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" during a House Rules Committee meeting on May 5, 2025. Her reasoning? Mexico has been "dumping raw sewage" near San Diego for over 40 years, and a name change would help the U.S. "retake and claim ownership" of the area. The only problem? San Diego is on the Pacific Ocean, over 1,500 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Cue the internet’s collective facepalm.

This viral moment, captured in a widely shared X post by@Acyn, didn’t just spark laughter—it ignited a heated debate about geography, environmental accountability, and political posturing. Let’s dive into what happened, why it matters, and what it reveals about the intersection of policy and public perception.

A Geographical Gaffe Goes Viral

Hageman’s statement quickly became a lightning rod on social media. The original X post, which included a video of her speaking at the committee meeting, racked up thousands of interactions. Replies poured in, with users like

@Mollyploofkins pointing out the obvious: "Someone tell that George Santos cosplayer that San Diego is 1,100 miles from the Gulf of Mexico." Maps were shared—like one from @Mamabenergy2 —highlighting the vast distance between San Diego and the Gulf, with snarky captions like, "Fact Check: San Diego is NOWHERE near The Gulf of Mexico."

The mockery didn’t stop there. @JoJoFromJerz quipped, "Does Temu Santos think San Diego borders the Gulf of Mexico? Does she also think it means ‘whale’s vagina’?"—a nod to a famous Anchorman line. Others, like @acnewsitics, took a harsher tone: "Maybe if you don’t know the Gulf is on the other side of the continent from San Diego, you’re too stupid to be a House member." The online reaction was a mix of disbelief, humor, and outright criticism, with many questioning how a sitting representative could make such a basic error.

The Sewage Crisis: A Real Issue Misplaced

Hageman’s geographical blunder overshadowed a legitimate environmental concern: the Tijuana River sewage crisis. For decades, millions of gallons of untreated wastewater have flowed from Tijuana, Mexico, into California, spilling into the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. According to Inside Climate News, the problem has worsened due to deteriorating infrastructure, population growth in Tijuana, and climate-driven storms. In 2023 alone, the San Diego Coastkeeper reported 31 billion gallons of raw sewage and polluted stormwater flowed into the Tijuana River Valley, closing beaches for over 1,000 days and posing serious health risks like gastrointestinal infections and respiratory illnesses.

Local residents, like Jose Cariman from San Ysidro, have described the impact: “It’s horrible. The quality of life is diminished a lot, the price of the house is diminished ’cause who wants to buy a house in the neighborhood that smells like sewage?” The crisis has also hurt tourism and local businesses, particularly in Imperial Beach, where beaches have been shuttered for years.

Hageman’s attempt to tie this issue to the Gulf of Mexico, however, was a stretch—both geographically and logically. Renaming a body of water on the other side of the continent wouldn’t address the systemic failures of cross-border governance or the lack of investment in sewage infrastructure. As @odinikaeze put it on X, “Fix the infrastructure. Stop the theatrics.”

The "Gulf of America" Push: Political Symbolism or Folly?

Hageman’s proposal wasn’t a standalone idea—it’s part of a broader political movement. In February 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," a move he described as a way to “restore American pride.” According to Courthouse News Service, federal agencies like NOAA and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management have since scrambled to update maps and documents, though the cost of compliance remains unclear. Some Gulf Coast states, like Louisiana and Florida, have adopted the new name through their own legislation, reflecting a wave of “America First” sentiment among Republican lawmakers.

Public opinion, however, tells a different story. A Marquette University poll from February 2025 found that 71% of Americans opposed the renaming, with only 29% in favor. A University of Northern Florida poll showed similar resistance, with 58% of Floridians against the change. Internationally, the move has been met with sarcasm—Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum jokingly proposed renaming North America in response.

Hageman’s comments thus fit into a larger pattern of symbolic nationalism, but her geographical error turned the narrative into a punchline. As @dogeai_gov argued on X, the renaming push is about “accountability” for Mexico’s environmental negligence, but critics like @colinabwallace countered that the U.S. has its own environmental failures—like the Mississippi River’s “dead zone”—to address before pointing fingers.

What Can We Learn from This?

The "Gulf of America" saga is more than a viral gaffe—it’s a case study in how misinformation, political rhetoric, and real-world issues can collide. Hageman’s error underscores the importance of basic factual accuracy, especially for elected officials. It also highlights the danger of performative policies that prioritize symbolism over substance. Renaming a body of water doesn’t fix sewage infrastructure or solve cross-border pollution—it just distracts from the hard work needed to address these problems.

At the same time, the Tijuana River crisis deserves real attention. It’s a stark reminder of how environmental issues transcend borders, requiring cooperation, not confrontation, between nations. The U.S. and Mexico need to invest in infrastructure, as figures like Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) have urged, to protect communities on both sides of the border.

Let’s Talk About It

This story leaves us with more questions than answers. Here are a few to ponder:

• How can leaders balance symbolic gestures with practical solutions in addressing environmental crises?

• What role should public education play in ensuring elected officials have a firm grasp of basic geography and science?

• Is the "America First" approach to renaming geographical landmarks a step toward national pride—or a step backward in international cooperation?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!