Whose gulf is it? Gulf of America replaces Gulf of Mexico on Google Maps in the US

The Gulf of Mexico's name has been changed to the Gulf of America for users in the United States on both Google Maps and Apple Maps. This update follows an executive order by US President Donald Trump. According to a statement by Google, "People using Maps in the US will see ‘Gulf of America,’ and people in Mexico will see ‘Gulf of Mexico.’" It goes on to mention that maps outside the US will show both names. The changes began appearing on Google Maps and were later adopted by Apple Maps, reports CNN; the Federal Aviation Administration and the US Coast Guard have also begun incorporating the new name in official updates.

This move is part of a broader effort by Trump's administration to rename significant geographic features—another being the change of North America's highest peak from Denali back to Mount McKinley. According to Business Insider, the directive was issued immediately after Trump's inauguration. Google has stated, "When official names vary between countries, Maps users will see the official name used in their country." This reflects Google's policy to follow official government naming conventions.

As expected, the initiative has sparked some controversy. Business Insider reports that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum openly remarked, "for us and for the whole world, it is still the Gulf of Mexico." The renaming has prompted responses at multiple government levels, with federal agencies tasked with updating databases and geographical records.

Despite these changes, the name Denali remains as of the last update, underscoring the complexity of such renaming efforts.