US President-elect Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he wants to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
He complained that Mexico was taking advantage of the United States on trade and immigration.
"We're going to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America," Trump said. "What a beautiful name. And it's appropriate. It's appropriate. And Mexico should stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country," Trump declared.
Trump made the comments while complaining that the U.S. had a large trade deficit with Mexico and Canada. He has raised similar concerns since winning the November election and vowed to impose steep tariffs on the two neighboring countries.
Both outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo have spoken with Trump in recent months about his tariff threats.
Trump on Tuesday called Mexico a "very dangerous country" that was run "essentially by cartels."
He suggested that Canada join the US after Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday.
The Gulf of Mexico, which covers more than half a million square kilometers, first appeared on European maps in the 1500s.