U.S President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to rename the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to the ‘Gulf of America’, in his newest eye-catching initiative as he prepares to take office later this month.
Trump said the controversial name change had a “beautiful ring” to it as he spoke at a wide-ranging press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.
“That covers a lot of territory, the Gulf of America. What a beautiful name and it’s appropriate,” Mr Trump said.
The 78-year-old also warned he will order “very serious tariffs” against Mexico and Canada over illegal border crossings.
“Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country,” he said.
“They can stop them, and we’re going to put very serious tariffs on Mexico and Canada, because Canada, they come through Canada too, and the drugs that are coming through are at record numbers.”
Trump previously threatened 25 per cent tariffs against Canada and Mexico after winning last year’s election.
He also spoke of the possibility of imposing tariffs on Denmark Greenland, and refused to rule out using military force to seize the autonomous territory as well at the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal is a major transportation conduit that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, allowing ships to bypass the long and dangerous trip around South America’s southernmost tip.
In his speech, the President-elect criticised former President Jimmy Carter, who died last week, for approving a pact that granted Panama sovereignty of the crucial waterway.
“He was a good man. I knew him a little bit, and he was a very fine person. But that was a big mistake,” he said.
Congress signed off on Trump’s election victory on Wednesday and vice president, Kamala Harris presided over the session, certifying her own defeat in a peaceful transition of power.
The former president will be inaugurated for his second term on January 20.
Trump has already identified most of the key nominees for his cabinet and other positions, and has been active on the world stage, hosting foreign leaders and commenting on events via social media.
