Why Did Trump Rename the Gulf of Mexico? Google Maps Update Explained

DGIX

February 11, 2025

Trump’s Bold Move: The Gulf of Mexico is Now the Gulf of America

In a controversial rebranding effort, Google Maps has changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America—but only for users in the United States. The rebrand of the oceanic basin, which is shared by the U.S., Mexico, and Cuba, took effect on Monday, with Google Maps users outside of the country still seeing both names, while in Mexico, it remains the Gulf of Mexico.

This change came after Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” on his first day in office on January 20, 2025. Trump insisted the name should honor the U.S. rather than Mexico, arguing that the U.S. plays a significant role in the Gulf’s economic and security operations. The Gulf of Mexico had carried its name since the 17th century.

Google’s Response

Google stated it would comply with the order but only after it was officially updated on the U.S. Geographic Names System (USGS).

“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 in a statement.

“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.”

Despite the name change, Apple Maps still lists the region as the Gulf of Mexico, causing discrepancies across digital navigation platforms.

Trump Celebrates ‘Gulf of America Day’

Taking to Truth Social, Trump celebrated the name change, posting: “GULF OF AMERICA!” He also declared February 9, 2025, as the first-ever “Gulf of America Day,” calling for celebrations and official recognition.

“NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 9, 2025, as Gulf of America Day,” Trump said.

Trump also reinstated Mount McKinley as the official name of North America’s tallest mountain, reversing Obama’s 2015 decision to restore its original Alaskan Native name, Denali.

Q&A: The Gulf of America Name Change

How much did it cost to change the name to “Gulf of America”?

The estimated cost of updating government maps, navigation systems, and official documents is projected to be in the millions. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are currently working on implementing the change in their databases.

Is it recognized everywhere?

No. The name “Gulf of America” only appears for Google Maps users in the U.S. Mexico and most international sources still recognize it as the Gulf of Mexico. Apple Maps, as of now, has not adopted the change.

Do all maps show this change?

Not yet. Google Maps is the primary platform implementing the name change. Apple Maps, Google Earth, and traditional paper maps still display “Gulf of Mexico.”

When was it originally named the Gulf of Mexico?

The Gulf of Mexico was named in the 17th century by Spanish explorers. It has been referenced as such in historical maps dating back over 400 years.

What’s Next?

While the U.S. government is updating official records, international resistance and tech platform inconsistencies mean that the Gulf of America name may not fully take hold anytime soon. Will other companies follow suit, or will this become another divisive political move? Time will tell.

Sources:

Google Maps Update Announcement, Google Blog
Executive Order on Name Restoration, White House Archives
U.S. Geographic Names System (USGS), usgs.gov
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Statement, faa.gov
Google changes name of Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’ for US users, Free Malaysia Today (Includes main photo citation)

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