Google Maps has updated its platform to label the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” for U.S. users, reflecting an executive order issued during former President Donald Trump’s administration. The change, which has sparked debate, follows updates from official government sources.
“For users in the U.S., the body of water is now labeled ‘Gulf of America.’ Users in Mexico will continue to see ‘Gulf of Mexico,’ while users elsewhere will see both names,” Google said in a statement Monday.
The renaming was part of a broader initiative under Trump’s presidency to restore historical U.S. names. The same executive order also sought to rename Alaska’s tallest peak, Denali, back to its previous name, Mount McKinley. However, as of Tuesday, the mountain’s name on Google Maps remained unchanged. The order framed the renaming effort as a celebration of “American greatness” and criticized the 2015 decision by former President Barack Obama to restore the Indigenous name Denali, arguing that it diminished President William McKinley’s legacy.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Coast Guard have begun updating official charts and documents to reflect the new name. “We are currently revising our data to incorporate the name change from Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America,” the FAA said in a statement.
The move has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters view it as a patriotic measure, while critics argue that renaming landmarks with deep historical and cultural significance is unnecessary.