Google Maps will change the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America

Google to Rename Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America Following Trump’s Executive Action

In a significant move, Google has announced that it will comply with President Donald Trump’s recent executive action to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. This change is set to be reflected on Google Maps in the coming weeks, marking a notable shift in how this body of water is identified in digital mapping services.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Google clarified its methodology, stating that it follows a “longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.” This means that the new name will appear once updates are made to the Geographic Names Information System, which is a government database containing names and location data.

Additionally, the executive order includes plans to revert the name of Mount McKinley back to Denali, as named by former President Barack Obama in 2015 to honor the native heritage of the region. The executive order criticized Obama’s decision, describing the renaming of McKinley as “an affront to President McKinley’s life, his achievements, and his sacrifice.” It draws connections between McKinley’s legacy and Trump’s own administration, emphasizing their shared focus on American values and economic growth.

The executive order highlights the significance of the Gulf of Mexico to the U.S. economy and asserts that the new name, Gulf of America, is intended to promote American heritage. According to the order, the objective is to ensure that “future generations of American citizens celebrate the legacy of our American heroes.”

As for the implementation of these name changes, Google has specified that only users in the United States will see the new designations; globally, users will still see both names as per their official local designations. This approach is part of Google’s effort to respect local naming conventions while also adhering to U.S. government updates.

The proposed changes have already sparked discussions among various groups, with some expressing support for the emphasis on American heritage, while others criticize the decision as politically motivated and dismissive of historical context. As the changes roll out on platforms like Google Maps, they will likely remain a topic of public conversation and debate regarding representation and historical recognition in U.S. geography.