Google Maps announced an expected name change resulting from an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump. Google stated on X that the name of the Gulf of Mexico will appear as the "Gulf of America" on US maps once the US Department of the Interior updates its official maps in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The name change responds to an executive action signed by Trump on January 20, fulfilling one of his campaign promises.
The change will only be visible within the US, adhering to Google's practice of following official government naming updates. Users outside the US will continue to see both the old and new names, "Gulf of Mexico" and "Gulf of America," with the former listed first.
The modification sparked controversy. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum humorously objected to the idea, emphasizing widespread global recognition of the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico. Sheinbaum remarked, "It will remain known as the Gulf of Mexico in Mexico and globally," according to Deutsche Welle.
This name change coincides with debates over other geographic names, such as Denali Mountain in Alaska, formerly known as Mount McKinley. Former President Barack Obama restored the name "Denali" in 2015 to acknowledge its historic use by local Natives. Trump reversed the decision.
Google highlighted its method of displaying names in regions with disputes, like using dual names for the body of water between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The unilateral renaming of a historic geographic feature like the Gulf of Mexico is not just semantic. Mail Online noted that "The Gulf of Mexico is one of the world’s largest gulfs, bordered by the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, holding environmental, economic, and geopolitical influence."
Google’s decision to comply with the GNIS, despite global disagreement, has added to the complexity of the debate. On social media, users criticized Google for perceived compliance with Trump's directive. One user called the expected change "idiotic" and "shameful."
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq