Trump Wants To "Import America", President Sheinbaum: "Mexico America Sounds Good"

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. (Wikimedia Commons/EneasMx)

JAKARTA - Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday proposed the name "Mexico America" to refer to North America, including the United States, the historic name used on the initial map of the region.

President Sheinbaum said in response to the words of United States President-elect Donald Trump who wanted to change the name "Mexico Bay" to "American Hole".

"Mexico America sounds good," joked Sheinbaum, pointing to a map from 1607 showing the early picture of North America, reported by Reuters on January 9.

The president, who has been arguing with Trump in recent weeks, used his daily press conference to provide history lessons, flanked by the old map and former cultural minister Jose Alfonso Suarez del Real.

"The fact is, Mexico's America has been known since the 17th century as the name for the entire northern part of the continent (America)," Suarez del Real said, while pointing the region to the map.

Regarding the Gulf of Mexico, Suarez del Real said the name was recognized internationally and used as a reference for maritime navigation for hundreds of years.

Earlier, Trump proposed changing the names of the waters spanning from Florida to Cancun in Mexico at a press conference Tuesday, where he delivered a broad expansionist agenda including the possibility of taking over the Panama and Greenland Canal.

On the occasion, President Sheinbaum denied Trump's remarks that Mexico was ruled by a cartel.

"In Mexico, the people are responsible," he stressed, adding "we are addressing security issues."

Despite the debate, President Sheinbaum reiterated he hopes the two countries have a positive relationship.

"I think there will be a good relationship," he said.

"President Trump has his own way of communicating," he said.