By Charlie / February 14, 2025
In a significant update, Google Maps will soon reflect a name change for the Gulf of Mexico, renaming it the Gulf of America. This change comes in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, who has pushed for the update to honor what he calls “American greatness.”
Google announced the decision in a post on X, stating that it follows a longstanding policy of adopting name changes once they are officially updated in government databases. The company will implement the change once the Geographic Names Information System, a federal database of geographic names, is updated to reflect the new name.
This isn’t the only change Google will make. The company will also revert the name of Alaska’s highest peak from Denali back to Mount McKinley. The mountain was renamed Denali in 2015 by former President Barack Obama as a tribute to the region’s Indigenous heritage. However, Trump’s executive order criticized the change, calling it a disrespect to President William McKinley’s legacy.
The order emphasized McKinley’s contributions to the nation, including his support for tariffs and his tragic assassination, which Trump described as an attack on American values. The document also highlighted the Gulf of Mexico’s economic importance to the United States, justifying its renaming as a way to celebrate the nation’s heritage.
Google clarified that the changes will only be visible to users in the United States. For international users, both the old and new names will appear, as the platform typically displays local official names based on the user’s location.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some applauding the move as a celebration of American history, while others view it as unnecessary and politically charged. Regardless of opinions, the updates mark a notable shift in how geographic landmarks are named and recognized on one of the world’s most widely used mapping platforms.
