MEXICAN President Claudia Sheinbaum ridiculed US president-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday in response to his proposal to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Standing before a global map in her daily press briefing, Ms Sheinbaum laughed off the assertion by suggesting North America could be renamed “America Mexicana,” or “Mexican America.”

She pointed out that a document dating from 1814, preceding Mexico’s constitution, referred to the area that way.

“That sounds nice, no?” she added with a sarcastic tone. She also noted that the Gulf of Mexico had been named that way since 1607.

Her remarks followed pushback by the leaders of Germany and France against threats by Mr Trump to take over Greenland.

At a press conference earlier this week Mr Trump said the Arctic region was “critical” for the national and economic security of the US.

When questioned by reporters, Mr Trump refused to rule out the use of military force to seize the autonomous territory of Denmark. 

Denmark has made it clear that Greenland is not for sale, as has Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented on the controversy on Wednesday, saying there was a “certain incomprehension” about Mr Trump’s statements.

He added: “The principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country no matter whether it’s a very small one or a very powerful one.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also commented on Mr Trump’s remarks, telling France Inter radio that the European Union would never tolerate the invasion of its borders but “if you are asking me whether I think the US will invade Greenland, my answer is no.

“Have we entered into an era that sees the return of the survival of the fittest? Then the answer is yes.”