Google Maps users in the United States will soon see the moniker “Gulf of Mexico” replaced with “Gulf of America,” thanks to an order from US President Donald Trump. Google revealed the move on Monday, stressing that it will only make changes if the government updates its official listings. The renaming comes after Trump signed an executive order directing that many landmarks around the country be renamed. The US Department of the Interior acknowledged that America’s Geographic Names System is working fast to implement the adjustments. When this happens, Google Maps in the United States will be updated to include the Gulf of America. “We have an established method of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” Google said in an article for X.
Trump’s Renaming Spree:
Trump has ordered other renamings as well. The US President has also ordered that Mount Denali, North America’s tallest peak, be renamed Mount McKinley again. The peak was called McKinley in 1917 after the 25th President of the United States, but the Native Alaskan name, Denali, was restored by the Obama administration in 2015. Trump explained the reversal by claiming President McKinley made America wealthy through tariffs and skill.
Trump’s prior fight over the Gulf of Mexico:
Since his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump has frequently battled with Mexico on border security and trade tariffs. He vowed to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, and during his presidency, his government built around 450 miles of it. The Gulf of Mexico is commonly called the United States’ ‘third coast’ since it borders five southern states. Mexicans call it ‘El Golfo de México,’ which translates to ‘Gulf of Mexico.’ There is also a discrepancy in how Americans and Mexicans refer to the vital river that divides Texas from many Mexican states. It is known as the Rio Bravo in Mexico and the Rio Grande in America.
Google’s Naming Policy:
Google Maps follows local naming practices and provides various names in contested locations. For example, the body of water between Japan and South Korea is referred to as the “Sea of Japan (East Sea),” and the Persian Gulf is known as the “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)” in different places. Regarding the Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali modifications, Google noted that they will take effect as soon as the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) updates official data.
