Google has announced its decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on Google Maps in the United States. The change comes in response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, which was part of a series of executive actions taken shortly after he assumed office. This name change will only be reflected in the U.S. version of Google Maps, while internationally, the body of water will continue to be known as the Gulf of Mexico.
The executive order, signed on January 20th, is part of a broader initiative to rename certain geographic features within the United States. The Alaskan peak Denali, North America's tallest mountain, will also be renamed Mount McKinley in U.S. versions of Google Maps. The Interior Department stated,
“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 has confirmed that these changes are not permanent but temporary, pending updates to the U.S. government's geographic names information system. Once the government updates its official naming system, Google Maps will reflect these changes accordingly. A Google spokesperson explained,
“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government.”
In line with its locale-based labeling conventions, Google ensures that when official names vary between countries, users see their region's official name. Outside the U.S., users will see both the Gulf of America and the Gulf of Mexico labels on Google Maps. Google clarified,
“When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name. Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names. That applies here too.”
President Trump's motivations for the change include halting what he describes as an influx of people entering the United States from Mexico. He stated,
“It’s appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country.”
Despite these changes on Google Maps, the Gulf of Mexico will maintain its name in scientific and historical contexts, ensuring that discussions in these fields remain consistent.