Following an executive order from US President Donald Trump, Google has announced updates to its mapping services, which include renaming certain geographical features. The tech company has long adhered to the practice of altering place names in accordance with official government sources. As a result of these updates, users across the US will see ‘Gulf of America’ while those in Mexico will continue to see ‘Gulf of Mexico’. Additionally, the renaming of Mount McKinley to Denali—a change initiated by former President Barack Obama in recognition of the local Indigenous community—has yet to be reflected on Google Maps.
Trump’s executive order, signed shortly after he took office, aims to reverse this renaming, calling Obama’s action an “affront” to McKinley’s legacy. The directive claims to honour “American greatness” and draws historical parallels to McKinley’s policies, notably his advocacy for tariffs and the circumstances surrounding his assassination. These changes underscore ongoing debates regarding the naming and recognition of places in America, highlighting the intertwining of geography and national identity.