\”During his second term inauguration speech on Monday, United States President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to acquire the Panama Canal and rename the Gulf of Mexico. Trump’s ambitious plans for territorial expansion were reminiscent of the 19th-century doctrine of ‘Manifest Destiny’. He also mentioned renaming Alaskan Mount Denali back to Mount McKinley. However, Trump’s statements regarding taking over the Panama Canal were met with skepticism by Panama President Jose Raul Mulino, who affirmed Panama’s sovereignty over the canal. The government of Panama officially owns the canal, with the US relinquishing control in 2000 under a treaty signed by former President Jimmy Carter. Despite Trump’s claims of unfair treatment and overcharging by the Panama Canal Authority, the treaty does not allow for the US to take over ownership of the canal. In addition, Trump’s proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America would not have international implications, as naming conventions for geographic features are not universally regulated. While Trump could potentially change the name of the gulf on US documents, it would not be recognized internationally.\”
