Google has announced it will comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The tech giant stated that the change will soon appear on Google Maps, following updates to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), a government database of geographic names.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, January 28, Google explained that it adheres to a “longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.” The company also confirmed that it will revert the name of Alaska’s highest peak from Denali to Mount McKinley, as directed by Trump’s executive order.
The name changes stem from an executive action signed by Trump shortly after taking office last week. The order stated that the renaming efforts aim to “honour American greatness” and promote the nation’s heritage.
It criticized former President Barack Obama’s 2015 decision to rename Mount McKinley to Denali, calling it “an affront to President McKinley’s life, his achievements, and his sacrifice.” The order also drew parallels between Trump and McKinley, noting that both leaders championed tariffs and that McKinley was assassinated in an attack on “our Nation’s values and our success.”
Trump’s executive order mandates that all federal government maps and documents reflect the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Google clarified that the changes will only be visible to users in the United States, as its policy is to display official local names when they vary between countries. Users outside the U.S. will continue to see both names.
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising the move as a celebration of American heritage and others criticizing it as unnecessary and politically motivated. The renaming of Mount McKinley, in particular, has drawn attention due to its significance to Alaska’s native population, who have long referred to the peak as Denali.
Source: lindaikejisblog
