Gulf of Mexico Renamed as Gulf of America on Google Maps

Google announced it will rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in its Google Maps app, following an order from US President Donald Trump to make the change in official documents.

In his first week in office, Trump signed an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico on US maps and federal communications. Google announced that it has the longstanding practice of updating names based on changes in official government sources. The changes will appear once the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is updated. 

“When official names differ between countries, Maps users see the name recognized locally. Everyone else around the world sees both names. This will apply here too,” stated Google.

Google also revealed that the highest mountain in North America, Mount Denali, would revert to its previous name of Mount McKinley to honor President William McKinley, who, according to Trump, enriched the US through tariffs and talent. The mountain had been renamed Denali in 2015 during President Barack Obama’s administration as a tribute to Native Americans in Alaska.

Amid the controversy, President Claudia Sheinbaum urged both Mexicans and international leaders to remain composed, emphasizing that the name change applies solely within the jurisdiction of the United States. "The Gulf of Mexico remains the internationally recognized name. It is essential to refer directly to the decrees in question. The order issued by President Trump specifically pertains to renaming their continental shelf as the Gulf of America, not the entire Gulf. It is important to understand this issue in its proper context,” she said.

The Guardian reported that Google has made name changes to locations involved in disputes before. For instance, outside of Japan and South Korea, the body of water between the two countries is labeled as the "Sea of Japan (East Sea)." In 2012, Iran threatened legal action against Google after the company removed the name "Persian Gulf" from its maps, leaving the waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula unnamed. The body of water is now referred to as the "Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)" in other countries.