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Google Maps is set to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America” for users in the United States, following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump shortly after he took office. This change is part of a broader initiative that also includes renaming Denali, North America’s tallest peak, back to its former name, Mount McKinley.
Details of the Name Change
- Implementation Timeline: The name changes will be reflected on Google Maps once the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) updates its official records. Google has stated that it adheres to a policy of updating names based on official government sources[1][2][3][4].
- Geographical Variations:
- Users in the United States will see “Gulf of America.”
- In Mexico, the name will remain “Gulf of Mexico.”
- International users will see both names displayed on Google Maps[3][4][5].
- Background Context: The change was part of Trump’s efforts to emphasize American heritage and honor historical figures. The executive order cites the Gulf’s significance to U.S. oil production, fishing, and tourism as reasons for the renaming[3][4][6].
- Reactions and Criticism: The renaming has sparked criticism from various groups, particularly indigenous organizations in Alaska who favor the name Denali over Mount McKinley. Additionally, diplomatic tensions have arisen with Mexico, where President Claudia Sheinbaum humorously suggested renaming North America to “Mexican America” in response to Trump’s proposal[3][4][6][7].
Google’s Position
Google has reiterated its commitment to following updates from official government sources regarding geographic names. The tech giant emphasized that when names differ internationally, users will see the local designation relevant to their location[2][5][6].
As of now, both the Gulf of Mexico and Denali continue to appear under their original names in official listings until the GNIS is formally updated to reflect these changes[1][2].
Citations:
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8634nwxd46o
[2] https://apnews.com/article/google-gulf-of-mexico-trump-96861212a9ee292966f19498338da6be
[3] https://www.dawn.com/news/1888267
[4] https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/01/28/google-maps-will-rename-gulf-of-mexico-as-gulf-of-america-in-the-us-after-trump-order
[5] https://6abc.com/post/google-maps-will-change-gulf-mexico-mount-denali-being-renamed-america-mckinley/15843354/
[6] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-maps-us-gulf-of-mexico-america-denali-mount-mckinley/
[7] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/google-maps-rename-gulf-mexico-gulf-america-us-users-2025-01-27/
[8] https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/28/tech/google-maps-gulf-of-mexico-america/index.html
