The body of water previously known as the Gulf of Mexico has now been renamed the Gulf of America for U.S.-based users of Google Maps, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. Google confirmed that it would update the name in its maps for users in the United States while keeping “Gulf of Mexico” for those in Mexico. Users outside both countries will see both names displayed.
This change follows the same policy that Google has used in the past, applying name updates when they are reflected in official government sources. Google had previously announced it would also update the name of Mount McKinley to Denali, reversing a previous renaming by former President Obama. However, this change hasn’t yet been implemented on Google Maps.
Trump’s executive action, signed soon after he took office, aims to honor American greatness by renaming these geographical features. The order specifically criticized Obama’s decision to rename Mount McKinley, claiming it was disrespectful to the legacy of President McKinley.
The name changes are not only being reflected on Google Maps but also by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is in the process of updating charts and data to reflect the new names. Similarly, the U.S. Coast Guard has started using the Gulf of America name in its public notices.
Both the Gulf of America and Mount McKinley name changes are part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to emphasize U.S. history and values, with a focus on honoring American leaders like President McKinley.
