Google Maps has updated its platform to reflect Donald Trump’s recent executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, but only for users in the United States. A Google spokesperson explained that the change aligns with the company’s practice of updating names in accordance with official government sources. However, users in other parts of the world will still see the Gulf referred to by its original name.
The move follows Trump’s inauguration declaration that the Gulf is a “crucial artery for America’s early trade and global commerce” and part of his efforts to emphasize U.S. power and influence. The decision has been met with criticism globally, especially from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who dismissed the name change as invalid outside U.S. borders and reaffirmed the Gulf’s identity as the Gulf of Mexico.
Google’s policy of adapting to regional naming conventions has allowed this localized change, but it underscores the limited impact of such orders beyond U.S. territories. Critics argue the move is symbolic and unlikely to gain international recognition, highlighting ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Mexico over sovereignty issues.
Despite the controversy, Trump’s administration has wasted no time enforcing the change domestically. The backlash, however, indicates that such symbolic gestures are unlikely to gain widespread acceptance beyond U.S. borders.
