Google renames Gulf of Mexico following Trump’s executive order
As it was once known in the United States, the Gulf of Mexico now appears as the Gulf of America on Google Maps for U.S.-based users. The change follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, prompting Google to update its maps to reflect the official government designation.
Google complies with federal directive
Google confirmed the update, stating its long-standing policy of adopting name changes once recognized in official government sources.
“People using Maps in the US will see ‘Gulf of America,’ and people in Mexico will see ‘Gulf of Mexico.’ Everyone else will see both names,” Google said in a statement Monday.
The move is part of a broader series of geographic renaming initiatives mandated by Trump, including the reversal of a 2015 decision to rename Alaska’s Mount McKinley as Denali. Although Trump ordered the name change to be reverted, Google Maps had yet to implement that update as of Tuesday.
Trump’s rationale: ‘Honoring American greatness’
The renaming effort stems from an executive order Trump signed early in his presidency, arguing that such changes “honor American greatness.”
The order specifically criticized former President Barack Obama’s decision to rename Mount McKinley, calling it “an affront to President McKinley’s life, his achievements, and his sacrifice.” It further compared McKinley’s economic policies to Trump’s own, noting that he “championed tariffs” and was assassinated “in an attack on our Nation’s values and our success.”
Government agencies follow suit
Following the announcement, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it was updating official charts to reflect the Gulf of America designation.
“Please be advised that the FAA is in the process of updating our data and charts to show a name change from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and a name change from Denali to Mount McKinley,” the agency said in a notice Monday.
Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard, responsible for maritime security and navigation, has begun incorporating the new name in its official notices and communications.
The renaming of geographic landmarks has sparked both support and criticism, with some viewing it as a patriotic move while others see it as politically motivated. Meanwhile, Google’s compliance with the order highlights the broader implications of executive actions on digital platforms and global cartography.
