Google Maps to Rename Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Google announced Tuesday it will rename the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” on its Maps platform for U.S. users, following a directive from the Trump administration to update official government sources. The tech giant also plans to revert the name of Alaska’s Denali mountain back to “Mount McKinley.”

The changes come after President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week mandating the updates on federal maps and communications. Google stated it follows a “longstanding practice” of applying name changes when they are updated in official government sources, such as the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).

“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement. The company added that the name “Gulf of Mexico” will remain visible for users in Mexico, while international users will see both names displayed.

President Trump emphasized the importance of restoring the name “Mount McKinley” to honor former President William McKinley, whom he credited with making the country “very rich” through tariffs and talent. The mountain was renamed Denali in 2015 under President Barack Obama‘s administration as a gesture of respect to Alaska Natives.

Google’s decision aligns with its policy of displaying official local names for geographical features when they vary between countries. The company confirmed that once the GNIS updates are reflected, Google Maps will automatically adjust to show “Gulf of America” for U.S. users and “Mount McKinley” for the Alaskan peak.

The move has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising the restoration of historical names and others criticizing the decision as politically motivated. The changes are expected to roll out in the coming weeks as official government databases are updated.