Iran is talking crazy.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently took aim at President Donald Trump over his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.” In a sarcastic post on social media, Khamenei ridiculed Trump’s action, calling it a purely symbolic move that “lacks all reality.” Khamenei’s comments, which were shared in multiple languages, came alongside an image that referred to the region by its traditional name, “Golfo de México,” in Spanish.
The Gulf of Mexico name change was one of Trump’s first executive orders after taking office. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names officially approved the new designation, and Google quickly updated its maps to reflect the alteration. However, the move has not been universally accepted. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has made it clear that her government will ignore the change, and many see it as a political stunt rather than a meaningful shift in global geography. Despite this, Trump proudly declared a “Gulf of America Day” during his Super Bowl trip, adding more fuel to the controversy.
Khamenei’s mockery of Trump also follows another round of Iranian propaganda, which included a disturbing video aired by Fars News Agency. The video depicted the mock arrest of Trump, a clear signal of Iran’s disdain for the former president.
However, the threats from Iran are not just words. Reports have surfaced indicating that during his 2024 campaign, Trump received serious warnings about potential assassination attempts, with Iranian sleeper cells in the U.S. allegedly possessing surface-to-air missiles. In response, Trump issued stark warnings to Tehran. “If they do it, they get obliterated,” Trump declared, emphasizing the severe consequences Iran would face if it carried out such an attack.
In the event of such a tragedy, Vice President JD Vance would assume the presidency. But it’s unclear whether he would be bound by Trump’s instructions. The situation underscores the dangerous reality of global tensions and the high stakes of leadership in America’s foreign policy.