Google Implements Name Change Based on Location
Google has begun referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” after an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump mandated the name change.
The California-based tech giant announced on Monday that the name displayed on its platforms would depend on the user’s location.
“People using Maps in the U.S. will see ‘Gulf of America,’ while those in Mexico will see ‘Gulf of Mexico.’ Everyone else will see both names,” Google explained in a blog post.
Google’s Justification: Geographic Naming System
Last month, Google signaled its intention to implement the change in a post on X, citing its reliance on the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), a database maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Mount Denali to Be Renamed Mount McKinley
In the same post, Google stated that it would also revert the name of Mount Denali in Alaska to Mount McKinley—honoring former U.S. President William McKinley—once the GNIS officially updated its records in accordance with Trump’s order.
Trump’s Executive Order and Historical Context
Trump signed the executive order renaming these natural landmarks on January 20, just hours after taking office, framing it as a move to “honor American greatness.”
Mount Denali, North America’s highest peak, was originally named by the Indigenous Koyukon Athabascan people. The U.S. government renamed it Mount McKinley in 1917 in tribute to the Republican president assassinated in 1901. However, in 2015, President Barack Obama’s administration reinstated the mountain’s Indigenous name ahead of his visit to Alaska.
Backlash and International Reactions
Trump’s renaming decisions sparked backlash from Indigenous groups in Alaska and criticism from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. She sarcastically suggested renaming North America as “Mexican America,” referencing early historical documents from her country.
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