News anchors avoid "Gulf of Mexico" after Trump's order

Recently, TV anchors and reporters across various news networks avoided using the phrase "Gulf of Mexico" when reporting on the splashdown of NASA astronauts. Instead, they referred to the body of water using terms like "Florida coast" and "the Gulf." This change appears to be in response to former President Donald Trump, who recently renamed it "the Gulf of America." The new name was established through an executive order signed by Trump earlier this year. Since then, media outlets seem to be deliberately using vague terms to avoid mentioning the name Trump does not favor. Notably, well-known anchors like Lester Holt and David Muir followed this trend, focusing on their words during broadcasts about the astronauts returning to Earth. Oliver Darcy from Status highlighted this phenomenon, noting that no major news outlet referred to the water by its historical name. He speculated that executives at these networks are wary of upsetting Trump, who has made his views clear on the name change. While a few journalists came close to using the traditional name, they often corrected themselves quickly, emphasizing the impact of Trump's influence over media language. Darcy criticized the media's compliance, suggesting it shows a shift away from adversarial reporting. He argued that when news outlets concede to such pressures, they undermine independent journalism. He expressed concern that controlling language is a form of power, making it easier for leaders like Trump to define reality.