Google maps to display ‘Gulf of America’ for U.S. users
Google announced it will revert the name of North America’s highest peak to Mount McKinley and rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on its Maps app, following executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump.
A spokesperson for the company explained that Google follows official U.S. government geographic designations via the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), so these changes will take effect once the GNIS is updated.
Trump’s executive orders, issued shortly after his inauguration on January 20, reversed two key decisions. One order restored the name Mount McKinley, undoing the 2015 decision by President Barack Obama to officially recognize Denali, the name used by Alaska Natives for centuries. The second order renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” citing its significance for U.S. oil production, fishing, and tourism.
The new names have provoked criticism, especially from indigenous groups in Alaska, who have long campaigned for the use of Denali. The renaming of the Gulf has also sparked diplomatic concerns with Mexico, with President Claudia Sheinbaum humorously suggesting that the U.S. could be renamed “Mexican America,” referencing the historical context of the 1848 land acquisition.
Google clarified that users outside the U.S. will continue to see both the old and new names for these places, in line with the company’s policy for disputed locations.
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