Google Maps renames Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America for U.S. users
The Gulf of Mexico has been officially renamed the “Gulf of America” on Google Maps for users in the United States following an executive order by President Donald Trump.
Signed on January 20, the order titled Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness mandates renaming the oceanic basin shared by the U.S., Mexico, and Cuba. Trump defended the change, claiming the U.S. does the “most work” in the gulf, asserting, “it’s ours.”
Google complied by updating the map, though users in Mexico will still see "Gulf of Mexico," while global users outside these countries will see both names.
Google expressed their intention to align with Trump's directive once the updates are made official in the US Geographic Names System (USGS). This step is in line with their stated practices regarding geographical names.
“As we announced two weeks ago and consistent with our longstanding practices, we’ve begun rolling out changes to reflect this update,” the tech giant said on February 10.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also confirmed that it would also adopt these name changes, updating relevant data and charts accordingly.
Trump celebrated the renaming on Truth Social, declaring February 9 as the inaugural "Gulf of America Day," urging Americans to observe the event with ceremonies and programs.
