From Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America': Google Maps adheres to Trump

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
28 Jan 2025 15:19
1 Shares

Google Maps renames the Gulf of Mexico following Donald Trump's executive order, citing adherence to official government changes.

Listen

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Miami to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Monday, January 27, 2025. (AP)

Google will rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" following US President Donald Trump's order, declared only hours after he assumed office.

Within the United States, the new name will be displayed, while Google Maps users outside the country will see both names. In Mexico, the Gulf will still be referred to as the Gulf of Mexico.

The Trump administration's Interior Department claims to have "officially" changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," as well as the Alaskan peak Denali to Mount McKinley.

The Interior Department announced on Friday that 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."

Alaska's highest peak had formerly been dubbed Mount McKinley, in honor of former president William McKinley, under whose leadership the US became one of the world's colonial powers.

Responding to questions regarding the rebrand, Google said "We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources."

Trump renaming of Gulf of Mexico only applies to US: Mexican president

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday addressed US President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," emphasizing that the change would only apply to the US continental shelf.

"It is important to read what the order says. It says that it will be called the Gulf of America on their continental shelf. In other words, what corresponds to the US continental shelf, they call the Gulf of America. For us, it is still the Gulf of Mexico, as it is for the rest of the world," Sheinbaum explained during a press conference.

Sheinbaum also responded with humor to the move earlier this month, suggesting that Mexico might rename North America as "América Mexicana" if the US were to proceed with renaming the Gulf. "That sounds nice, no?" she added, referencing a historical document from 1814.