Google Maps will soon reflect new names for the Gulf of Mexico and Denali following a presidential executive order

Hours after taking office on January 20th, President Trump signed an executive order mandating the renaming of two prominent geographic features: the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and Denali back to Mount McKinley. The move has already prompted responses from major tech companies, with Google announcing plans to update its mapping services accordingly.

Government Implementation

The U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed last week that it would implement the name changes through the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The board is working to update the official federal nomenclature in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), making the changes effective immediately for federal use.

Tech Companies Respond

Google was quick to announce its compliance with the changes. In a statement posted on X, the company explained its approach: "We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources." The company noted that the implementation would vary by region, with users in different locations seeing different names.

According to Google's policy:

• U.S. users will see "Gulf of America"
• Mexican users will continue to see "Gulf of Mexico"
• Users in other countries will see both names

International Reaction

The name changes have already sparked diplomatic responses. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the announcement with a touch of humor, suggesting that perhaps North America, including the United States, should be renamed "Mexican America" - referencing a historical name used on early maps of the region.

Historical Context

Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, in Alaska

This isn't the first time Denali has been subject to name changes. The mountain was officially known as Mount McKinley until 2015, when it was changed back to Denali, its traditional Native Alaskan name, during the Obama administration.

Looking Forward

While Google has confirmed its plans to implement the changes, other tech companies have yet to announce their responses. Apple, for instance, has not yet commented on potential updates to Apple Maps.

The implementation timeline will largely depend on the speed at which the Geographic Names Information System is updated, though the Department of Interior has indicated the process is being expedited.