House Passes Gulf of America Act; Trump on the First American Pope: 'Such a Great Honor for Our Country' (May 8, 2025)

The House passed a bill to write President Donald Trump’s Gulf of America into federal law, and the same day the world got its first American pope. “It’s such a great honor for our country to have an American Pope,” Trump told reporters at the White House on May 8, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“The House voted 211-206 to pass the ‘Gulf of America Act’ from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), with most Republicans backing the measure,” the Daily Wire reported that day [3].

The video above shows the House vote, the smoke over the Sistine Chapel and Trump’s remarks on May 8, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project, the Daily Wire, the Associated Press, KUTV and Citizen Digital [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9].

”One of President Trump’s Favorite Executive Orders”

“This is the first step to codify into law one of President Trump’s favorite executive orders,” Greene said on X, according to the Daily Wire [3].

“The Gulf of America is one of the most important things we can do this Congress,” Greene said, according to the Associated Press [4].

“In short, this legislation recognizes the strategic influence America has over this geography, not to mention the existing economic, cultural, and commercial might that we passively exert on the Gulf,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C. [4]

“The American people are footing the bill to protect and secure the Gulf of America. It’s only right that it’s named appropriately,” said House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan [4].

The bill “mandates that all references to the Gulf of Mexico in U.S. laws, maps, regulations, and other federal documents be updated to reflect the new name,” the Daily Wire reported. It gives federal agencies 180 days to update their documents and maps [3].

The bill then went to the Senate [3].

”An Indelible Part of America”

Trump ordered the new name on his first day back in office. “The area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico has long been an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation and has remained an indelible part of America,” his executive order says [6].

The order says the Gulf provides “roughly 14% of our Nation’s crude-oil production and an abundance of natural gas.” [6]

“Trump then signed a proclamation on February 9, as he flew on Air Force One to attend the Super Bowl in New Orleans, making it ‘Gulf of America Day,’” the Daily Wire reported [3].

“We’re flying right over it right now, so we thought this would be appropriate,” Trump said in a video posted to X. “Even bigger than the Super Bowl, this is a big thing.” [3]

“White Smoke Poured From the Chimney”

“White smoke poured from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and the great bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolled Thursday after cardinals elected the 267th pope to lead the Catholic Church,” KUTV reported [5].

“Cardinal Robert Prevost, of Chicago, was elected as the Catholic faith’s new pope. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV,” the station reported [5].

“The crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers, priests made the sign of the cross and nuns wept as the crowd shouted, ‘Viva il papa!’ after the white smoke wafted into the late afternoon sky,” KUTV reported [5].

“The smoke signal means the winner secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis,” the station reported [5].

The first ballot had not produced a pope. “On Wednesday night, the black smoke of the first ballot poured out of the chapel chimney just after 9 p.m.,” KUTV reported [5].

Outside the Vatican, activists made their own smoke. “In a park on a hill overlooking the dome of St Peter’s and the church’s Vatican headquarters, campaigners released pink smoke from flares, and demanded that women be allowed to seek ordination,” Citizen Digital reported [7].

”What Greater Honor Could There Be?”

“And I mean, what greater honor could there be? And we were a little bit surprised, but very happy,” Trump said [1].

He posted the news on Truth Social. “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope,” Trump wrote [2].

“What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” he wrote [2].

Asked whether he planned to meet the new pope, Trump said: “I do, yes. They’ve already called.” [1]

“But, again, to have the Pope from the United States of America, that’s a great honor. That’s a great honor,” he said [1].

Trump had just been with golf legend Tiger Woods. “You saw Tiger, who is fantastic, a great champion, great guy,” he said [1].

On more trade deals after the one with Britain, Trump said: “We have—we’re working on three of them right now—trade agreements.” [1]

By the Numbers

211-206: the House vote on the Gulf of America Act [3].
180 days: for federal agencies to update their documents and maps [3].
267th: pope to lead the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV [5].
89 of 133: the votes needed to elect him [5].

What Happened Next

Vance met the new pope. “This morning in Vatican City, Vice President JD Vance met privately with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV,” the White House said on May 19, 2025 [8].

The readout said Vance and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher “discussed religious freedom, the persecution of Christians around the world, and the shared commitment of President Trump and Pope Leo XIV to stop the killing in Ukraine and the Middle East.” [8]

“First of all, we’re thrilled to join the first papal mass with the first American pope, Pope Leo XIV,” Vance told reporters before leaving Rome [9].

“And I think, you know, the Vatican — in particular, the pope — is going to be a great advocate of world peace,” Vance said [9].

For Trump at the White House Easter prayer service, see HYGO News’ page on April 16, 2025. For Melania Trump honoring military mothers the same day as the pope’s election, see the page on May 8, 2025.