'It's so beautiful': Trump gets ‘teary-eyed’ over ‘Gulf of America' map

President Donald Trump, with a twinkle in his eye and a 'slight tear', joked about getting emotional while admiring a map of the newly renamed "Gulf of America" during an Oval Office media event on Tuesday. "I'm just looking at it—beautiful, really beautiful. I’m getting teary-eyed, but don’t you dare say, ‘Trump broke down and cried,'" he quipped, pointing at the map.Trump's remarks about the Gulf of America follow his earlier executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico, a decision that has drawn both support and controversy. During a flight to New Orleans, he signed a proclamation declaring 9 February as "Gulf of America Day." The White House has strongly defended the renaming, despite pushback from media organisations, particularly the Associated Press (AP), which continues to use the name "Gulf of Mexico."The dispute between Trump and the AP escalated after the White House began barring the agency from presidential events, including briefings aboard Air Force One. The AP subsequently sued, arguing that the administration's actions violated the First and Fifth Amendments. A federal judge denied the AP's request for an immediate injunction, with a full hearing scheduled for March. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration's stance, stating that questioning the president was a "privilege, not a legal right."Meanwhile, tech companies have implemented the name change, with Apple and Microsoft updating their maps to reflect the "Gulf of America" designation. Google has followed suit, displaying the name in the U.S. while maintaining "Gulf of Mexico" in Mexico. However, the AP has remained firm in its editorial policy, continuing to use the traditional name while acknowledging Trump's decision.During the briefing, Trump also criticised the Associated Press, calling its journalists "radical left" and "third-rate reporters." He was seen distributing pamphlets that read, "Trump was right about everything," asking reporters if they would like a copy. The press room at the White House displayed screens reading "Victory" alongside the "Gulf of America" sign following the judge's decision against the AP’s injunction.Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, joined the controversy by mocking the AP. In a post on X, he shared an image renaming the Associated Press as "Associated Propaganda."Despite the legal battle, Trump remains resolute in enforcing the name change. "The Associated Press just refuses to go with what the law is," he said, referring to his executive order.