Google has announced an update to its maps, replacing the name of the Gulf of Mexico with the American one.
The company announced this on the X network.
– We have received several questions regarding the names on Google Maps. We have a long-standing practice of applying name changes after they are updated in official government sources, Google said in a statement.
It is noted that the new names will only be displayed to users in the US, while the rest of the world will see both versions.
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Trump's executive orders on changing geographic names
Recently, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on the basis of which the changes were implemented. The president called the move a “tribute to America's greatness,” and the U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed that the name is now official.
In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum joked about renaming North America “Mexican America,” referencing the region's historical name.
In addition to the bay, Trump ordered that Mount Denali be renamed Mount McKinley, which it had in honor of the 25th president of the United States.
The name was originally created in 1896, but in 1975, Alaska Native tribes won the return of the traditional name Denali. Former President Barack Obama made it official. From now on, Google Maps will update this change as well.
How Google Resolves Controversial Issues
Google's policy on controversial issues remains unchanged: maps are adapted to local standards. For example, the territory of Crimea in Ukraine is designated as Ukrainian for Ukrainians, Russian for users in the Russian Federation, and as a disputed territory for the rest of the world.
In 2012, Iran accused Google of removing the name Persian Gulf. There is similar controversy surrounding the Sea of Japan, which South Korea calls the East Sea.
The Associated Press said it would use the term American Gulf as a second name, acknowledging the historical significance of the previous name.
As for Mount McKinley, the AP supports the new name. The mountain is located entirely within the United States, and Trump has the authority to change federal geographic names.
Screenshot: Google Maps
