By Charlie / February 14, 2025
Google Maps is preparing to update its platform to reflect a significant name change: the Gulf of Mexico will soon be known as the Gulf of America. This change comes in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, who has framed the renaming as a celebration of American heritage.
In a post on X, Google explained that it follows official government sources when updating names on its platform. The change will be implemented once the Geographic Names Information System, a federal database, is updated to reflect the new name.
The update also includes reverting 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 nod 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 highlighted McKinley’s contributions to the nation, including his economic policies and his tragic assassination, which Trump described as an attack on American values. It also emphasized the Gulf of Mexico’s economic importance to the United States, justifying its renaming as a way to honor the nation’s greatness.
Google clarified that the changes will only be visible to users in the United States. International users will see both the old and new names, as the platform typically displays local official names based on the user’s location.
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions, with some applauding the move as a celebration of American history and others criticizing it as unnecessary and politically charged. Regardless of opinions, the updates mark a notable shift in how geographic landmarks are named and recognized on Google Maps.
