During a speech at the McDonald’s Impact Summit on November 17, 2025, President Donald Trump took everyone by surprise. While addressing McDonald’s franchise owners and operators in Washington, D.C., Trump diverged from the event’s agenda to propose renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Immersed in a narrative about national pride, Trump acknowledged the disconnect, stating, “It has nothing to do with McDonald’s, but maybe it does.” He painted the renaming as a swift act of patriotism, despite the story being unrelated to his audience’s interests.
His rhetoric highlighted the strength of American spirit, intertwined with an anecdote of insisting Coca-Cola revert to using sugar, following foreign examples. Reflecting American tenacity, Trump emphasized a massive overhaul in ten minutes rather than years.
Personifying the entrepreneurial tenacity of McDonald’s operators as mirrors of American ethos, Trump’s speech seamlessly interwove unrelated topics to acclaim business resilience and national prestige. While not universally popular, Trump’s symbolic renaming reinforced his administration’s branding of changed identity and underscored his commitment to empowering small enterprises.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through the ads.