In January 2025, Trump issued an executive order directing U.S. federal agencies to use the name Gulf of America.
Google subsequently announced that Google Maps users in the United States would see Gulf of America, while users in Mexico would continue seeing Gulf of Mexico. Users in other regions would see both names.
Google explained that its mapping labels reflect the official geographic naming information applicable to different regions.
This example demonstrates how a geographic name can appear differently depending on where someone accesses a map.
It also highlights an important distinction: changing a name in a country's official records or in a company's mapping interface does not necessarily mean that every country has adopted the same terminology.
Could Google Actually Rename the Atlantic Ocean?
Google controls the labels and information displayed in its own mapping services, but it does not have the authority to impose a universally accepted geographic name on every country.
