Google Maps will soon show the “Gulf of Mexico” as the “Gulf of America” for users within the United States. The change follows a recent executive order by US President Donald Trump, with Google confirming the update on Monday.
The federal decision, implemented by the US Department of the Interior, aligns with Trump’s directive to rename key landmarks across the country. According to the department, America’s Geographic Names System has been tasked with swiftly updating maps to reflect these changes.
Google Responds To Official Updates
“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.,” Google noted in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
We’ve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps. We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.
— News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) January 27, 2025
Interestingly, the update will apply only to US-based users.
For Mexican users, the body of water will continue to appear as the “Gulf of Mexico.”
As per a Reuters report, in other regions, Google Maps will display both names. How that would happen will only be understandable once the changes roll out.
Renaming Spree Extends Beyond The Gulf
The renaming initiative doesn’t stop at the Gulf of Mexico. Trump’s executive action also reinstates “Mount McKinley” as the name for North America’s tallest peak. The mountain had been renamed Denali in 2015 during Barack Obama’s administration, reflecting its indigenous Alaskan roots.
The sudden renaming moves have sparked reactions across borders. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum humorously proposed that the United States could itself be renamed “Mexican America,” referencing early historical maps.
A History Of Naming Disputes
Google Maps has previously navigated complex geopolitical naming issues. In territorial disputes between Japan and South Korea, for example, the body of water between the nations is listed as the “Sea of Japan (East Sea)” outside their borders.
Similarly, a controversy in 2012 saw Iran threaten legal action against Google for omitting the name “Persian Gulf” on its maps. Today, the waterway appears as “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)” in international versions of Google Maps.
This latest update reflects Google’s ongoing practice of adapting to political and geographic developments while maintaining clarity for global users.
(With inputs from Reuters)
