Silke Mayr Google Maps will soon update to reflect President Donald Trump’s executive action, renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and restoring Denali’s name to Mount McKinley. The changes will follow official updates to government sources.
Trump’s Order Reverses Obama Decision
In response to Trump’s executive order, Google confirmed that the names will be updated on its platform after the U.S. government’s Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) makes the official changes. This practice follows Google’s policy of adopting name changes once they are officially updated by government sources.
The executive action not only mandates the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico but also reinstates Mount McKinley as the official name of Alaska’s highest peak. This action reverses a 2015 decision by former President Obama to rename the peak Denali, honoring indigenous communities.
Trump’s Executive Action and Its Rationale
Trump’s executive order emphasizes honoring American history and promoting national pride. It criticizes Obama’s renaming of Mount McKinley, arguing that it overlooked President William McKinley’s contributions, including his advocacy for tariffs. The directive highlights the Gulf of Mexico’s economic significance and mandates its renaming to the Gulf of America to reflect the nation’s heritage.
Impact and Global Differences
The name changes will soon be reflected on all federal maps and documents. However, Google clarified that only U.S. users will see the updated names on Maps. International users will continue to see both names, in line with Google’s policy of showing local versions of official names in different countries.