Google Changes Gulf of Mexico Name on Maps - Gulf of America

Gulf of Mexico Renamed to Gulf of America on Google Maps

A recent update to Google Maps officially changed the designation of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on Monday.

Presidential Decree and Historical Context

The alteration follows a decree issued by President Donald Trump on his inauguration day. This executive order mandated the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Furthermore, the order reversed a prior decision made during the Obama administration. This previous decision had renamed Mount McKinley to Denali, acknowledging the name historically used by Indigenous populations.

It's important to note that the name Gulf of Mexico has been the most commonly used designation for this body of water since the 16th century.

The president articulated that these name changes represent a symbolic effort to “[restore] American pride in the history of American greatness.”

Implementation and Geographic Variations

As of Monday afternoon, Google Maps users within the United States are now viewing the Gulf of Mexico labeled as the Gulf of America.

Users accessing Google Maps internationally will see both names displayed. However, users located in Mexico will continue to see the Gulf of Mexico designation.

Google had previously indicated in January that it would implement Trump’s executive order once the official place names were updated within the United States’ Geographic Names Information System.

Reactions and Google's Policy

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced plans to send a formal letter to Google. This letter will question the company’s decision to alter the name of the Gulf of Mexico on Google Maps.

However, Google’s action aligns with its established policies regarding the handling of naming discrepancies between different countries.

On mobile devices, Google Maps adapts to reflect the user’s country location. This determination is based on factors such as the user’s operating system, SIM card, and network information.

Comparison with Apple Maps

While Google has complied with the presidential order, Apple has not yet updated the names of either the Gulf of Mexico or Denali within its Maps application.

A search for “Gulf of America” on Apple Maps currently yields no results.

Corporate Contributions

Both Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook were present at President Trump’s inauguration.

Tim Cook made a personal donation of $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund. Google also contributed $1 million to the fund.

Updated 2/10/25, 9:30 p.m. ET with additional information from Google.