Apple and Google Maps Rename Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America
Google and Apple Maps renamed the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America in the U.S. after Trump's order to show national pride.
In a move that has sparked mixed reactions, Google Maps has changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" for users in the United States. This change follows an order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on his first day in office, January 20, 2025.
The name "Gulf of Mexico" has been used for hundreds of years, dating back to the 16th century. However, President Trump liked the idea of renaming it and made it one of his first actions after taking office. The new name, "Gulf of America," was officially updated in the U.S. government's Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which manages place names.
For now, the name change is only visible to users in the U.S. on Google Maps. People in Mexico and other countries will still see the original name, "Gulf of Mexico." For users in other countries, both names will appear together, with "Gulf of America" shown in brackets next to the original name.
A day after Google Maps made this change, Apple Maps also updated the name in the U.S., but users in other countries continue to see "Gulf of Mexico." Microsoft’s Bing has not made any changes yet, but reports suggest that Bing plans to update its maps soon to reflect the U.S. naming system.
Google explains that it follows the official government records for naming places, which vary by region. The name shown on Google Maps depends on the user’s location, which is determined by factors like device settings, SIM card information, GPS location, and network.
The reason behind this name change? According to President Trump, renaming the Gulf was done to honor “American greatness” and highlight the U.S.'s “historical and economic contributions” to the region. Trump also believes "Gulf of America" sounds better and gives a sense of American pride.
Critics, however, argue that the change is unnecessary and driven by politics. One person posted on TikTok saying, “I seriously thought that the Gulf of America stuff was a joke, but apparently after 500 years, you can just change the name.”
While supporters see this as a way to show national pride, others feel it’s a move that’s unnecessary. The Gulf of Mexico has been a shared water body between the U.S., Mexico, and Cuba for centuries, important for shipping, fishing, and energy production.
What do you think about Trump’s decision to rename the Gulf? Is it a proud moment for America, or is it just a political move? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
