On Monday, Google implemented a significant change in its Maps service for users in the United States, renaming the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America." This decision aligns with an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump. According to a blog post from Google, users outside the U.S. will continue to see both names displayed on the platform, a practice similar to how the company manages other disputed geographic names.
For users in Mexico, the name Gulf of Mexico will remain unchanged, while international users will have access to both designations. Google clarified in its blog that "People using Maps in the U.S. will see ‘Gulf of America,’ and people in Mexico will see ‘Gulf of Mexico.’ Everyone else will see both names."
This change was initially hinted at in a post on social media platform X, where Google explained that it updates geographic names based on the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), a database maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey. In the same announcement, Google mentioned that it would also revert the name of Mount Denali in Alaska back to Mount McKinley, in accordance with Trump’s directive, once the official database reflects this change.
The executive order was signed just hours after Trump took office on January 20, 2017, framing the decision as a way to "honor American greatness." Following the signing of the order, Google stated that it would adjust its maps to reflect the new names as soon as the U.S. government updated its official maps.
Google has emphasized its policy of implementing name changes only after they have been formally recognized by government sources. In a post on X dated January 27, the company reiterated this longstanding practice.
Trump's decision to rename these geographic features has not been without controversy. Indigenous groups in Alaska have criticized the move, advocating for the preservation of the name Denali, which had been officially recognized under President Barack Obama in response to requests from Alaska Native communities. Additionally, the changes have raised diplomatic tensions with Mexico.
In a light-hearted response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested that the United States be referred to as "Mexican America," highlighting historical maps from a time before a significant portion of Mexico was annexed by the U.S. in 1848.
This is not the first instance where Google has applied different names to the same geographic location based on user location. For example, the body of water between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which has long been a subject of naming disputes, is labeled differently on Google Maps. Users in Iran see it as the Persian Gulf, while in Arab countries, it is referred to as the Arabian Gulf.
In summary, the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America reflects not only a response to political directives but also underscores the complexities and sensitivities surrounding geographic naming conventions in a global context.
Zainab Y.
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