Google Maps Changes "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of United States" Following Trump's Inauguration

Trump Orders Name Changes on Inauguration Day
Alaska's Denali to Be Renamed Mount McKinley
Mexican Users Will Continue to See Original Names on Maps

The world's largest search company, Google, plans to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" on its map service, Google Maps. This is because U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on his inauguration day, the 20th, directing this change.

On the 27th (local time), Google posted on its news account on X (formerly Twitter), "We have received several questions regarding place names on Google Maps," and began by saying, "We have a long-standing practice of applying name changes when official government sources are updated." It further explained, "Once the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is updated, we will immediately display 'Gulf of America' and 'Mount McKinley' on Google Maps within the United States."

Google Map marked with the Gulf of Mexico (yellow circle). Google Maps capture

Earlier, on his inauguration day, the 20th, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America, and Denali, the highest peak in North America located in Alaska, be renamed Mount McKinley within 30 days. The new names will be reflected in the GNIS, operated by the U.S. Geological Survey under the Department of the Interior.

However, Google explained that when official place names differ by country, the names displayed depend on the user's location. In other words, even if the Gulf of Mexico is renamed the Gulf of America, Mexican users will continue to see the official Mexican name, Gulf of Mexico, on Google Maps. Google added that users accessing Google Maps from regions other than the U.S. and Mexico will see both names.

Regarding Alaska's Denali, it was formerly called Mount McKinley after William McKinley (1843?1901), the 25th President of the United States, but in 2015, during the Barack Obama administration, it was renamed Denali, the name used by the indigenous people of Alaska, and has been called Denali for the past 10 years.