Google Maps Changes Name of Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America
Google Maps made a significant update on Monday by officially changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. This decision comes after President Donald Trump decreed the renaming of the body of water on the day of his inauguration, citing a move to restore American pride in the country’s history of greatness.
The Gulf of Mexico, a name that has been in use since the 16th century, has now been replaced with the Gulf of America on Google Maps for users in the United States. International users will see both names, while Mexican users will continue to see it as the Gulf of Mexico. Google’s compliance with Trump’s executive order reflects the company’s policy of aligning with local government preferences when it comes to place names.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed concerns over Google’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico and stated that she would be sending a letter to the company regarding this change. However, Google’s stance on aligning with local naming conventions remains consistent, and the company’s decision to update the name on Google Maps reflects this approach.
While Google has implemented the name change as per Trump’s order, Apple has yet to update the name of the Gulf of Mexico or Denali on its Maps app. Searches for “Gulf of America” on Apple Maps currently do not yield any results, indicating a delay in updating the platform with the new name.
Both Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook were present at Trump’s inauguration, with Cook personally donating $1 million to the inaugural fund. Google also made a $1 million contribution, highlighting the tech industry’s engagement with the political landscape.
