When Trump Renames a Gulf, Surfrider Foundation Europe and .becoming Launch the "Make The Ocean Great Again" Initiative

Feb. 24, 2025

When Donald Trump unilaterally decided to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," Surfrider Foundation Europe, in collaboration with the agency .becoming, responded with humor and commitment by launching Make The Ocean Great Again. If politicians feel entitled to rename bodies of water, why not do the same to remind the world what a respected and protected ocean should look like?

With this initiative, Surfrider Foundation Europe symbolically renames European aquatic sites on Google My Maps, assigning them meaningful names that highlight the urgency of ecological issues.

The Atlantic Ocean becomes the North Atlantic right whale Oasis, Balearic Islands Beaches transform into the free from harmful UV filters coast, and many other sites are given names that embody a vision of a future where the ocean is preserved.

This initiative aims to remind everyone that seas and rivers do not belong to political leaders but are a shared resource that must be protected for future generations. By turning an absurd gesture into a powerful act of advocacy, Surfrider Foundation Europe encourages citizens and institutions to rethink their relationship with the ocean and its fragility.

Surfrider Foundation Europe invites the public to contribute by sharing the campaign video and the map on their social media platforms: @surfriderfrance and @surfridereurope.

Alexandre DECROIX-DROUILLARD, Creative Director at .becoming said:

"Our oceans, rivers, and coastlines deserve better than an arbitrary rebranding. Instead of politically annexing them, it is time to give them the names they truly deserve—names that remind humanity of its duty to respect and protect them."