Shock Move: Google Renames Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’ 

In addition to this change, Trump also reversed an Obama-era decision, reinstating the name "Mount McKinley" for Alaska's Denali.

For American users of Google Maps with updated apps, the body of water between the U.S. and Mexico is now labeled as the "Gulf of America." However, users in Mexico still see the familiar “Gulf of Mexico” label, and international users see both names displayed. This adjustment was anticipated after Google’s announcement in January that it would implement the change once the United States Geographic Names Information System was updated.

While Google has made this change in line with the executive orders, not all tech companies are following suit. Apple Maps, for instance, continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” on its platform.

The decision hasn’t gone unnoticed in Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly criticized the alteration, stating that “For us it is still the Gulf of Mexico, and for the entire world, it is still the Gulf of Mexico.” Sheinbaum also mentioned plans to formally address Google and request that “Mexican America” be recognized on the map as well.

Google has stood by its decision, pointing out that its mapping policies adjust labels based on users' locations, including factors such as operating systems, SIM cards, and network connections. While this change is likely to stir debate, it is a reflection of the growing influence of geopolitical factors in digital mapping, as well as a shift President Trump is causing in the region.