In a move that has sparked both praise and criticism, Google has announced it will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in its Google Maps app, following an executive order from US President Donald Trump.
In a recent move, Google has announced that it will be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in its Google Maps app.
This decision comes after US President ‘honor American greatness’ and recognize the region’s contributions to the US economy.
The change in name is part of a broader effort by Trump to promote American heritage and greatness. According to his executive order, the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico is intended to ‘honor American greatness’ and recognize the region’s contributions to the US economy.
Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, has a complex and multifaceted American heritage.
Born in Queens, New York, to Mary Anne MacLeod and Frederick Christ Trump, he was raised with Scottish and German roots.
His father's real estate empire, founded in 1927, played a significant role in shaping Trump's business acumen.
Trump's ancestry also includes Dutch, Irish, and English influences through his mother's side.
This diverse heritage has been cited as an inspiration for his entrepreneurial spirit and 'American values'
Mount Denali to Revert to Mount McKinley
In addition to the name change for the Gulf of Mexico, Google will also be reverting the name of North America‘s highest mountain, Mount Denali, back to its previous name of Mount McKinley.
This decision is also a result of Trump’s executive action, which aims to restore the mountain’s original name as a tribute to former President ‘William McKinley‘.
Located in Alaska, Mount Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley) stands at an impressive 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) above sea level.
It is the highest peak in North America and a prominent destination for mountaineers and adventure seekers.
The mountain's extreme weather conditions and steep terrain make it a challenging climb.
Climbing season typically runs from May to July, with temperatures ranging from -22°F to 40°F (-30°C to 4°C).
In a statement on social media, Google explained that it has a ‘longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.’
The company noted that the changes will be made quickly once the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is updated. According to Google, only users in the United States will see both changes, as the official names vary between countries.
Mexico’s president, ‘Claudia Sheinbaum‘ , has poked fun at Trump’s renaming decision and even suggested that North America be renamed ‘América Mexicana‘ or ‘Mexican America‘.
Meanwhile, Indigenous organizations and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski have come out against Trump’s decision to restore Mount McKinley‘s original name.
The changes will only appear on Google Maps users in the US. For those outside of the United States, both names will be visible, as is standard practice when official names vary between countries.
