Google has announced that it will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in its Google Maps app, in compliance with a directive from US President Donald Trump to reflect the new name in official US documents.
One of the executive actions signed by Trump shortly after taking office was to rename the Gulf of Mexico on US maps and federal communications.
The updated name will be visible only to Google Maps users in the US. Additionally, American users will see Mount Denali, North America's highest peak, restored to its previous name of Mount McKinley, in line with another renaming initiative by Trump.
In a statement on social media, Google stated, We apply name changes from official government sources, and assured that modifications for both the Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali will be implemented promptly following updates to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
Google clarified that users will see the official local name for a place if there are discrepancies between countries, while global users will see both names, a practice that extends to the latest alterations.
Trump highlighted the importance of the name change during his inaugural address in January, emphasizing America's status in the world.
On the other hand, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum mockingly responded to Trump's decision, suggesting playful renamings for regions in return.
While Trump's decision to restore Mount McKinley received criticism from Indigenous groups and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who advocate for recognizing the native name Denali with its historical significance.