Joy Behar, co-host of The View, has sparked yet another debate after expressing frustration over the United States being named after an Italian explorer 

during a segment discussing the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. 

Her remarks came as the panel discussed President Donald Trump’s decision to rebrand the body of water as the Gulf of America—

a move that has already ignited controversy among media outlets and political commentators alike.

Behar Questions America’s Name

The discussion on The View began with the hosts debating the White House’s recent decision to bar an Associated Press (AP) reporter from the Oval Office. 

The move came after the AP refused to use the term Gulf of America instead of the Gulf of Mexico, a name change initiated by Trump’s administration.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, the show’s resident conservative voice, took a neutral stance on the matter, arguing that the renaming wasn’t as drastic as some were making it out to be.

“It is North America. Mexico and the United States are part of the Americas. It would be petty if he called it the Gulf of the United States,” she stated. Behar, however, took the conversation in a different direction, launching into a broader critique of America’s name itself.

“This country that we’re in was settled by indigenous people, right? And yet they named the country after an Italian white man, Amerigo Vespucci,” Behar argued. “That’s what America is named after, Amerigo Vespucci, a white European. Why was it named after a white man if it was settled by indigenous people?. Her comments immediately sparked reactions from both her co-hosts and viewers, with some agreeing with her sentiments and others dismissing them as unnecessary revisionist history.

A Common Practice in Geographic Renaming

Co-host Sara Haines responded to the debate by pointing out that the renaming of places and bodies of water is not unusual.

“The body of water south of China, which much of the world calls the South China Sea, China calls it South Sea, Vietnam calls it Eastern Sea, and the Philippines has designated parts of it the West Philippine Sea,” she explained. “So it happens.”

Despite this, Behar shifted the conversation back to Trump, arguing that he should be focusing on more pressing issues rather than renaming geographic locations.

“But why does he care about it when the prices are going up on the eggs?” she asked. “People did not vote to rename the Gulf of Mexico.”

Behar’s Pattern of Criticizing Trump

This is not the first time Behar has made headlines for her critiques of Trump. Just a day prior, she suggested that Trump’s push to abolish the penny stemmed from his “jealousy” of Abraham Lincoln, who appears on the coin.

“Trump has loyalty to no one, look what he did to his first Vice President,” she remarked. “I mean, it’s really—he’s jealous of everyone. Now he’s getting rid of the penny, he’s even jealous of Lincoln. He’s so small and petty.”

Behar’s repeated criticisms of Trump have made her a polarizing figure in political discourse, with conservatives often accusing her of being overly dramatic and dismissive of policy discussions.

Mocking Elon Musk’s Son X

Adding to the week’s controversies, Behar and fellow co-host Whoopi Goldberg also took jabs at Elon Musk’s young son, X Æ A-Xii, after he made an appearance at the White House alongside Trump.

Goldberg set the stage by mentioning that Musk had taken his son to a press conference, prompting Behar to interrupt: “X?”

Goldberg, shaking her head, responded, “I did not name the child, and I don’t want to hear any more mess about our names,” earning laughter from the panel.

Behar continued poking fun, referring to Musk’s son as “little Instagram,” seemingly trying to make a joke about Musk’s ownership of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. However, she was quickly corrected—Musk does not own Instagram, which is a Meta property.

Conclusion

Behar’s remarks about America’s name and her broader critiques of Trump’s actions continue to fuel controversy and debate. Whether she is calling out the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, accusing Trump of pettiness over the penny, or mocking public figures, her outspoken commentary ensures she remains at the center of media discussions.

As Trump’s administration moves forward with its various initiatives—including eliminating DEI programs and cutting government spending—his latest decisions, including geographic renaming, are likely to remain a topic of heated discussion on The View and beyond. Meanwhile, Behar shows no signs of backing down from her signature style of political commentary, keeping both fans and critics engaged in the ongoing culture wars.

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