Google announced that it will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” on its maps for users in the United States.
According to a post on social media platform X, users in Mexico will continue to see the Gulf of Mexico, while those outside both countries will see both names.
Google explained that this change follows a long-standing practice where official names are adjusted based on the country, ensuring local users see their official names, while users elsewhere see both versions.
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.
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The decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last week.
On Friday, the US Interior Department confirmed that the change had been made and stated that efforts are underway to update the Geographic Names Information System with the new nomenclature.
What’s behind the Gulf of America?
Google’s implementation of the name change demonstrates how digital platforms are becoming central to geopolitical decisions.
In the US, the Gulf will now be exclusively labelled as the Gulf of America, while in Mexico, the original name will remain intact.
Users outside these two nations will the name in this format: “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).”
The change mirrors similar naming conventions adopted by Google for other disputed territories, such as the dual naming of the “Sea of Japan (East Sea)” between Japan and South Korea.
President Donald Trump announced the decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico, calling it the “Gulf of America” during a news conference earlier this month.
He described the new name as “beautiful” and “appropriate,” suggesting that it was tied to ongoing frustrations with Mexico’s immigration policies and drug trafficking issues.
In addition to renaming the Gulf of Mexico, President Donald Trump’s executive order also reverts the name of North America’s tallest peak, Denali in Alaska, back to Mount McKinley. Google confirmed that this name change will also be reflected on its platform.
According to the executive order, the Secretary of the Interior has 30 days to implement the name changes in the GNIS database.
Once updated in the GNIS, all federal agency maps, contracts, and documents will be mandated to reflect the new official name.
The renaming of these geographic features aligns with Trump’s broader agenda to assert what his administration framed as American heritage.
Reaction to Trump’s order
The Gulf of America renaming has drawn a mixed response, with implications for international relations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum jokingly suggested that North America itself could be rebranded as “Mexican America,” referencing a historic map label.
The move to rename the Gulf mirrors past controversies. For instance, in 2012, Google faced backlash for leaving the waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula nameless, later labelling it “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)” to account for competing regional narratives.
In the case of the Gulf of Mexico, critics argue that the renaming reflects unilateralism and disregards the shared cultural and historical significance of the region.
From a diplomatic perspective, the change risks straining US-Mexico relations, as the Gulf is not only a vital economic resource but also a shared maritime space.
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