War of words erupts on East Coast as locals propose renaming Delaware Bay... inspired by Trump's Gulf of America
An all-out war of words has erupted on the East Coast after a New Jersey state lawmaker announced he plans to rename the Delaware Bay to 'The Bay of New Jersey' - echoing Donald Trump 's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico.
Republican state Sen. Michael Testa introduced a new bill Thursday that would direct state agencies to officially change the Delaware Bay so he could 'Make New Jersey GREAT AGAIN!'
The Trump supporter, who represents Cape May County, took to X on Friday to defend his bizarre idea, suggesting that New Jersians should be able to fish in a bay with its name attached to it.
'I look at the robust fishing industry - commercial fishing industry and recreational industry of the State of New Jersey,' Testa told NJ Advance Media.
The body of water has held the Delaware title since 1610 when it was named after Thomas West, the third baron de la Warr and Englishman who governed the Virginia colony, per the Delaware government's website.
While Testa seems excited about his pitch, many people, especially Delaware residents, are not as thrilled.
One raged on Facebook: 'Fight us for it Jersey!'
'It will always be the Delaware Bay,' said another.
Someone else commented: 'Jersey stay away from our bay!'
Another person even took a jab at Testa himself, and said: 'Maybe the Senator needs to change his name!'
'The GOP Always Trying To Rename Bodies Of Water ... How Pathetic...,' a user wrote.
Meanwhile, some New Jersey residents were on board with the plan.
'You know what hell yeah,' one wrote.
'If ya really wanna do this, I suggest a more fluid phrase... How about 'Bay of Cape May,' said someone else.
'That's ridiculous.... it should be New Jersey Bay,' a user wrote alongside a laughing emoji.
Although some New Jersians stood by the proposed legislation, others were just as unhappy with Testa for his 'dumb' idea.
'Lower my homeowners taxes in New Jersey. I could care less about the bay,' one wrote.
Another sarcastically said: 'Ah yes that's definitely going to solve all of our problems of barely surviving...shew.'
'We need to vote idiots out of government,' another user said.
The Delaware River - a 282 mile body of water that borders New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania - empties into the bay.
It is commonly used for tourism, travel and commerce.
Under Testa's proposed legislation, the possible new name of the bay would be included in 'publications, signage, websites, and materials to reflect the new designation and notify relevant federal entities.'
This was not the only bill Testa proposed last week, as he also suggested the Garden State should reclaim land along New Jersey's Salem County shore that is claimed by Delaware as part of a decades-old border agreement.
Testa's move follows suit with Trump's executive order to have the U.S. Department of the Interior to recognize the 'Gulf of America' in government-issued materials, including maps.
In May, the House of Representatives passed a bill to officially change the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America.'
The name change is only recognized by the US, not by other countries, including Mexico.
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