Google Maps to Rename Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America in the US
Tech Giant Aligns with Trump’s Executive Order, Adopting Dual Naming Elsewhere
Google has announced that it will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on Google Maps for users in the United States, following an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump. In Mexico, the name will remain the Gulf of Mexico, while users outside both nations will see both names displayed.
Additionally, the Alaskan peak known as Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, will revert to its former name, Mount McKinley, on Google Maps in the US. This decision aligns with the executive orders Trump signed on January 20th, part of a flurry of actions on his first day in office.
Google explained the move in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they are updated in official government records. When official names differ between countries, Maps users see their local official name. For the rest of the world, both names are displayed. This policy applies here as well.”
The renaming is part of Trump’s broader push to “restore traditional American terminology” and deliver on a campaign promise. Announcing the order, the Department of the Interior said,
“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.”
Google confirmed it would implement the changes once they are updated in the US government’s Geographic Names Information System.
International Reactions
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the renaming with humor. In a lighthearted remark earlier this month, she proposed renaming North America itself to “América Mexicana” (Mexican America), referencing an 1814 founding document that preceded Mexico’s constitution.
Meanwhile, Trump defended the name change during a rally, calling Gulf of America “a beautiful, strong name.” He added,
“It’s appropriate. And Mexico needs to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country.”
A History of Naming Disputes on Google Maps
Google has applied similar approaches to other geographic naming controversies. For example, the body of water between Japan and South Korea appears as the “Sea of Japan (East Sea)” in countries outside the dispute. Similarly, the waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula is labeled “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)” globally to reflect regional sensitivities.
In 2012, Iran even threatened legal action against Google for removing the name “Persian Gulf” entirely from Maps, leaving the waterway unnamed for a time.
This latest decision underscores Google’s strategy of balancing political mandates with international naming conventions, even as such changes often spark debate and backlash.
