White House eviscerates House Dems trying to upend Trump’s Gulf of America plans

The White House is pushing back against Democratic lawmakers who are attempting to derail House GOP plans to permanently change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The House Rules Committee, which is responsible for reviewing legislation before it goes to a House-wide vote, is currently considering a bill that would solidify President Donald Trump’s decision to rename the body of water.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly accused Democrats of being consumed by “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and obstructing the President’s agenda. She emphasized that the Gulf of America is a vital asset to the nation and should be recognized as a symbol of American greatness for future generations.

Four Democratic lawmakers have submitted amendments to challenge the legislation, although their chances of success are slim due to the committee’s Republican majority. Rep. Jared Huffman from California has proposed an amendment to reverse Trump’s decision to rename Mt. McKinley back to Mt. Denali, the original name given by indigenous peoples in Alaska. Another amendment by Rep. Darren Soto from Florida seeks to limit Trump’s authority to issue oil and gas drilling leases in the Gulf region.

Additionally, Rep. Maxine Dexter from Oregon has put forth an amendment to prevent the Trump administration from retaliating against news organizations that continue to refer to the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico. This comes after the White House blocked access for an Associated Press journalist earlier this year for using the former name.

Rep. Luz Rivas from California has submitted an amendment to delay the formal name change until the Department of Interior conducts an assessment on its potential economic impact. Rivas criticized the rename as a “vanity project” that does not address the pressing economic concerns facing Americans.

The bill is expected to be voted on this week as part of a series of legislative efforts by House Republicans to make Trump’s executive actions permanent. Trump’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America was one of his first actions in his second term.

Despite the White House’s strong support for the name change, Democrats remain committed to challenging the decision. The remaining Democratic lawmakers who were contacted for comment did not respond by the time of publication.

Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, is leading the coverage of the House of Representatives. Follow her on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com.