Google has confirmed it will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America following the executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
The directive was one of more than 100 penned by the President upon his return to the White House, as part of a move to make certain name changes on official maps and federal communications.
While Google has made the move to recognize the changes, the US tech giant insists it is not an endorsement, but rather a continuation of an ongoing protocol.
The company posted on X to explain the situation.
“We’ve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps.”
“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.”
However, the recognition of the Gulf of America will not be a blanket change. Google users in Mexico will still see the ‘Gulf of Mexico’, while all other users outside the States and Mexico will see both names.
The ocean basin has been known as the Gulf of Mexico since 1607.
Social studies educator here. There is no such thing as the "Gulf of America." I don't care how many executive orders Trump issues or tech companies placate him. Full stop. https://t.co/dQNGkPSLFf
— Christopher Martell (@chriscmartell) January 28, 2025
President Trump also reinstates name of Mount McKinley
President Trump has also reintroduced the name of Mount McKinley for the mountain range in Alaska, previously known as Denali as part of a gesture from President Barack Obama in 2015 to the native Alaskan people.
Google will also recognize this shift in official U.S. policy.
Before that, the mountain was named in homage to the 25th POTUS, William McKinley, who served from 1897 until his assassination in 1901.
Trump has recently honored the wealth his historic counterpart brought to America through the use of tariffs.
The name changes reflect the America First policy that the incumbent President will pursue in various ways.
The response in some quarters has been critical, and disparaging in others, with Mexico’s President Claudia Shienbaum suggesting tongue-in-cheek that all of North America, including the States, should be renamed América Mexicana” or Mexican America.
That is in reference to an 1814 founding document that used the name, preceding Mexico’s constitution.
Image credit: Via Midjourney