WEB DESK: Following a directive from the Trump Administration Google has renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”
Google has stated that it follows official U.S. government naming policies, and the update to Google Maps was made after the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) reflected the modifications ordered by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Denali, the highest peak in North America, was originally named Mount McKinley in 1917, but the Obama administration restored its Alaskan native name in 2015. The Trump administration’s decision to revert the name has sparked significant debate, particularly among Alaskan lawmakers, who have voiced their opposition.
Internationally, the change has also provoked strong reactions. Mexican users of Google Maps will still see “Gulf of Mexico” in accordance with their country’s naming conventions, and in some cases, both names may appear together. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has openly criticized the renaming, mocking Trump’s attempt as a politically charged decision.
The decision highlights the complexities of geographic naming and its political ramifications, with a growing international debate surrounding such changes.
