Google has announced that it will be complying with President Donald Trump's executive action to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. This change will soon be reflected on Google Maps.
In a statement, Google explained that they have a practice of updating names in accordance with official government sources. The name change will be implemented once the Geographic Names Information System, a government database of names and location data, is updated.
Additionally, Google will also be changing the name of Mount McKinley, the nation's highest peak, back to its original name from Denali. This change was made by former President Barack Obama in 2015 as a tribute to the native population of Alaska.
President Trump's executive action, which prompted these changes, aims to honor American greatness and celebrate the legacy of American heroes. The order criticized the renaming of McKinley as an affront to President McKinley's achievements and sacrifice.
Furthermore, the executive order directs that the Gulf of Mexico be officially renamed the Gulf of America to recognize its contributions to the US economy. All federal government maps and documents will be updated to reflect this change.
Google clarified that only users in the United States will see these changes on Google Maps. For users in other countries, they will see both the official local name and the updated name. This practice ensures that users worldwide have access to accurate geographical information.
