President-elect Donald Trump has announced his plan to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of Plantation Grown Pine.” Speaking at a news conference, Trump touted the move as a tribute to the “great American spirit of innovation and sustainability,” emphasizing the importance of plantation-grown pine in reducing deforestation and supporting the lumber industry. “It’s strong, it’s reliable, it’s the best wood, and we’re going to honor it in a big, beautiful way, it’s going to be hugeeee” Trump declared.
The proposal has sparked widespread reactions, from environmentalists praising the focus on renewable resources to critics questioning the practicality of renaming an entire body of water. Social media erupted with memes imagining pine trees sprouting along the Gulf’s coastline.