House Republicans have ignited a firestorm with a proposed bill that would rename the vast coastal waters encircling the United States after former President Donald Trump. The legislation, spearheaded by Florida Representative Greg Steube, seeks to rebrand the US Exclusive Economic Zone as the “Donald John Trump Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.”
Covering an expansive 4.3 million nautical miles, this zone extends up to 200 nautical miles from the US territorial sea baseline and includes territories of the United States, according to the National Ocean Service.
The move has drawn fierce criticism, especially in light of Trump’s controversial environmental record.
During his presidency, Trump rolled back nearly 100 environmental regulations, weakening protections for clean water, air quality, and wildlife conservation. Environmental advocates have denounced these actions as detrimental to climate resilience and federal protections.
Despite the bill’s audacious nature, its prospects in a Democratically controlled Senate appear bleak. Nevertheless, Steube plans to introduce the legislation today, coinciding with what would have been Trump’s 78th birthday.
In addition to proposing the renaming of coastal waters, Republican lawmakers previously suggested renaming the Washington-Dulles International Airport after Trump.
Conversely, Congressional Democrats have countered with proposals to rename a federal prison in Florida after Trump, who faces a litany of legal challenges, including allegations related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
