John Mellencamp, a well-known musician, has openly criticized President Trump’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” This change was addressed during Mellencamp’s performances on his “Dancing Words Tour.” In concerts held in New York and New Jersey, Mellencamp interrupted his song “Pink Houses” to express his disapproval.

At a concert in Holmdel, New Jersey on July 25, Mellencamp mockingly questioned, “Wait a minute. The Gulf of Mexico? Is that right? It’s not the Gulf of America?” He then criticized the idea, calling it “stupid.” Another performance showed Mellencamp, now 74 years old, questioning the name change again, expressing disbelief.

A White House representative, Davis Ingle, responded to Mellencamp’s remarks, dismissing them by stating that opinions of celebrities are insignificant, particularly those considered out-of-touch or “woke.”

Mellencamp, a long-time resident of Bloomington, Indiana, has distanced himself from Trump’s policies previously. In 2017, he described Trump, without mentioning his name directly, as “the worst president ever” on MS Now. Mellencamp also mentioned he would not have performed at Trump’s inauguration, although he had performed at President Obama’s 2009 celebration. Mellencamp emphasizes a general distrust toward politicians across all parties.

President Trump had initially signed an executive order for federal agencies to adopt the name “Gulf of America” for the region long known as the Gulf of Mexico. The House passed a bill to formalize this change, though the Senate has yet to vote. The proposal drew criticism, particularly from Democrats and some moderate Republicans who viewed it as a trivial effort. Advocates claim the renaming would boost American pride.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene supported the change, drawing an analogy to the significance parents give to naming a child. She remarked that names carry pride and meaning.

Journalist Mallory Wilson contributed to this report.