Google is complying with a recent executive order from President Donald Trump to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. This change will be reflected on Google Maps once the Geographic Names Information System, a government database, is updated with the new name.
Additionally, Google will update the name of Mount McKinley to Denali, reversing a change made by former President Obama in 2015. Obama had renamed the Alaskan peak in honor of the region’s Native American heritage.
The executive order, signed shortly after Trump took office, explains that these name changes aim to honor American values and the country’s history. The order criticizes Obama’s decision to rename Mount McKinley, describing it as disrespectful to the legacy of President McKinley, who championed tariffs and was assassinated in a politically motivated attack. Trump’s order emphasizes renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America to recognize the region’s importance to the U.S. economy.
According to Google, the name changes will only be visible to U.S. users, as international users will continue to see both the old and new names, depending on local standards.