Following a presidential executive order, Google Maps now shows the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘Gulf of America’ for US users.
In response to a January 20th executive order from President Trump promoting “American Greatness,” Google Maps has updated its US display to reflect the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. The order also sought to reinstate the name Mount McKinley for Denali, North America’s highest peak.
Google stated its policy is to reflect name changes from official government sources. The tech company announced on Monday that, following the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) official change, Google Maps would be updated to reflect this alteration.
While US users see ‘Gulf of America’, the map continues to display ‘Gulf of Mexico’ for users in Mexico. Other users see both names, with the displayed name depending on location settings.
This approach mirrors how Google handles other geographically disputed names, such as the body of water between Japan and Korea, labeled ‘Sea of Japan (East Sea)’ internationally.
The renaming has drawn criticism. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declared that Mexico and the international community will maintain use of ‘Gulf of Mexico’, asserting that the US cannot unilaterally change the name of an internationally recognized body of water, established for centuries.
The gulf, connecting to the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, lies along Mexico’s eastern coast, the southeastern US coast, and Cuba’s western edge. The name ‘Gulf of Mexico’ has been used for over four hundred years by European explorers and cartographers.
The UK and Canada also oppose the name change and will continue using the original name.
While the Google Maps change is implemented, the Denali renaming faces continued opposition and hasn’t been reflected on Google Maps. The Alaska Legislature recently passed a resolution urging Trump to keep the name Denali, emphasizing its cultural significance to Alaskan Natives. The resolution noted the name’s centuries-long use and its deep historical importance.