Trump’s plan to rename Persian Gulf akin to ‘freedom fries’ gimmick: US journalist

By Sally Ahmed

US President Donald Trump’s plan to rename the Persian Gulf as the "Arabian Gulf" caters to the interests of Washington’s allies and Iran’s adversaries, according to a prominent American journalist, filmmaker, and author.

In an interview with the Press TV website, Max Blumenthal criticized Trump’s proposed renaming of the Persian Gulf to the "Arabian Gulf," calling the move "laughable."

Citing two US officials, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Wednesday that Trump intends to announce during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia that the US will now refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia.

Although historical records have established that the strategic waterway is named "Persian Gulf," certain Arab states and their allies have long promoted the alternative and fabricated term "Arabian Gulf" for it.

“Trump's plan to rename the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf is a favor to the Israeli lobby and …maybe to the [Persian] Gulf elements, those who hate Iran,” Blumenthal said.

“It’s similar to renaming French fries ‘Freedom fries’ after 9/11 [attacks] when the French refused to support the US’s disastrous march to war on Iraq, and also similar to Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America."

The editor of the Grayzone website emphasized that Trump’s plan is “purely symbolic and ultimately kind of laughable.”

Blumenthal also took aim at US foreign policy, stressing that it requires comprehensive reform and democratization.

“It would be to give the American people, the American public, a voice on US foreign policy,” he stated.

“They're not supposed to have a voice, and only a small select group of experts is allowed to make these decisions embedded within the national security state,” he added, noting that the US foreign policy "needs to be democratized.”

Commenting on the protracted conflict over occupied Palestine, he described it as “a kind of gruesome, permanent war,” adding that the Zionist entity sees itself as "fighting an existential battle.”

“And if they cannot achieve what [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu calls total victory against all of their foes arrayed against them, they will be continually fighting this war, which grows more and more vicious," said the American journalist.

“And unfortunately, horrifically, Palestinians are paying a price, and almost no one is coming in to defend them."

Blumenthal, however, said he foresees a political transformation in the West, driven by growing public support for Palestinians in Gaza, who have endured a 19-month genocide that has claimed the lives of nearly 53,000 people, mostly women and children.

“The effect of this is, on a global stage, Israel has abandoned its soft power inside the West, and this could lead to a long-term political shift in the West.”

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk