Google Maps will soon rename Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’
Google has announced it will rename significant geographic landmarks on Google Maps, including the Gulf of Mexico and Denali Mountain, in response to changes ordered by the Trump Administration. These alterations are set to take effect once the official government mapping database reflects the new names.
Gulf of Mexico Becomes Gulf of America
As part of an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, the Gulf of Mexico will soon be renamed the Gulf of America for U.S. users of Google Maps. This name change was part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to revise geographic names, which has sparked reactions from different political and cultural groups.
For Mexican users of Google Maps, however, the name will remain Gulf of Mexico. The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), the official government database, still lists it under its previous name, and Google plans to implement changes once the database is updated. In regions where naming is disputed, Google Maps will display both names side by side.
Denali Mountain to Revert to Mount McKinley
The name change also affects Denali, the highest peak in North America. Originally renamed in 2015 by the Obama administration, Denali will now revert to its former title of Mount McKinley, named after U.S. President William McKinley in 1917. This change has generated controversy, particularly from Alaskan senators, who argue the Denali name holds significant cultural value for native Alaskans.
Despite objections, the Trump administration’s decision to rename Denali has now been officially recognized, and Google Maps will reflect the new name for global users once the GNIS database is updated.
Impact of the Changes
These name changes are not universally applied. For global users, geographic names on Google Maps will be displayed according to the official government databases of each country. This means that while U.S. users will see the Gulf of America, Mexican users will continue to view it as the Gulf of Mexico.
Google has emphasized that it follows updates from official U.S. sources for geographic names. Once the GNIS is officially revised, the changes will take effect in Google Maps, aligning with federal standards for U.S. landmarks.
Conclusion
The renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali is part of a broader political effort to reshape how U.S. geographic features are represented in maps. While these changes will be reflected for U.S. users of Google Maps, international users will see both names displayed where necessary. These decisions are part of ongoing debates about territorial identity and historical significance in U.S. politics.
