Date:
January 28, 2025
Google Maps will soon display the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and Denali as Mount McKinley for U.S. users, following Trump's executive order. The move ignites debates over history, politics, and cultural identity.
Google Maps has announced plans to update its platform to reflect recent executive orders from President Donald Trump, which renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Alaska’s Denali back to Mount McKinley. This change, which Google says will be implemented as soon as the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) updates its records, follows a contentious decision that has drawn domestic and international attention.
On January 20 (Trump’s first day in office), he signed an executive order for this name change. This move signals a shift in how major geographical landmarks are officially labeled within the United States. The U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed last week that the changes were now official, directing federal agencies and institutions to adopt the new names. Adhering to its policy of aligning with government-sanctioned names, Google stated via a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the updates would be reflected for U.S. users once GNIS formalizes the revisions.
Localized Naming for Global Audiences
Google’s implementation of the renaming will vary based on users’ locations. Within the United States, the Gulf of America and Mount McKinley will appear as the default names on Google Maps. However, Mexican users will continue to see the Gulf of Mexico, as it remains the official name in their jurisdiction. For users outside both countries, Google plans to display both names side by side: Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).
This dual-naming system is consistent with Google’s practice of presenting localized naming conventions in areas of geopolitical dispute. For instance, the body of water between South Korea and Japan is labeled East Sea in South Korea, while appearing as Sea of Japan (East Sea) in other parts of the world.
What’s Next?
The official update to the GNIS database is expected soon, and Google says it will implement the changes quickly thereafter. Whether these changes will gain traction with the public remains uncertain. Regardless, Google has decided to comply with US regulations.
