In a controversial move, Google has confirmed that it will rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on Google Maps for users in the United States. This decision comes as a result of an executive order issued by Donald Trump on January 20, marking one of his first policy actions upon returning to office.
Google defended the decision by stating that it follows a longstanding practice of updating place names whenever they are officially changed by governments. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Google explained that when official names vary by country, Google Maps reflects the local designation, ensuring that users in different regions see the name their government recognizes. The company also noted that the update would take effect once the U.S. government’s geographic names information system was officially revised.
Trump’s executive order did not stop at renaming the Gulf of Mexico. It also included restoring Mount McKinley as the official name of North America’s tallest peak, reversing a 2015 decision by the Obama administration that had reinstated its Indigenous name, Denali. The U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed the change, stating, “As directed by the president, the Gulf of Mexico will now officially be known as the Gulf of America and North America’s highest peak will once again bear the name Mount McKinley.”
Trump personally praised the renaming of the Gulf, calling “Gulf of America” a name with a “beautiful ring” and tying the change to his stance on immigration. He remarked, “It’s appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country.”
The move quickly drew reactions from Mexico, where President Claudia Sheinbaum responded with humor. She suggested that if the Gulf of Mexico was being renamed, then North America itself should also be renamed and proposed the term “América Mexicana” (Mexican America), referencing an 1814 historical document that used this term before Mexico’s official constitution was established.
Google’s approach to naming disputes has been consistent over the years. The company has previously localized place names based on regional politics. For instance, the body of water between Japan and South Korea appears as the “Sea of Japan (East Sea)” outside those nations, while the Persian Gulf dispute led to the compromise label “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)” in some regions.
In 2012, Google even faced backlash from Iran for temporarily removing the Persian Gulf label from its maps, leading to threats of legal action.
