On January 20, 2025, the day Trump went into office, he issued an executive order officially renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The Gulf was called and recognized as the Gulf of Mexico for well over 425 years. While Trump may have officially changed the name, it is only recognized as the Gulf of America in the United States. Google stated that they will only officially change the name on Google Maps when the Geographic Names Information System updates to the Gulf of America.
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, responded to the name change of the gulf through the act on January 21, 2025. There she had laughed at the fact that Trump wanted to change the name and stated, “He says that he will call it the Gulf of America on its continental shelf.” For us, it is still the Gulf of Mexico, and for the entire world it is still the Gulf of Mexico.” Sheinbaum said.
When the Geographic Names Information System updated and changed the name from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, the name was then changed officially on Google Maps. “I will continue to call the Gulf the Gulf of Mexico as I have only ever known that name for it my entire life,” said Khennedy Liberis.
Claudia Sheinbaum then responded to the name change of the Gulf by threatening to take legal action against Google as Trump only has the right to change the name in America. Claudia Sheinbaum responded stating that they are waiting for a response from Google and if they get nothing, they will continue with legal action.
Google said the name will differ depending on where you are on the map. For example, if someone who is in the United States looks up the Gulf on Google Maps the name Gulf of America will show. If someone who is in Mexico however looks up the name of the Gulf on Google Maps the name will show as Gulf of Mexico. If someone is in neither of these regions the name will show as both Gulf of America and Mexico.
The Associated Press, which is a news agency, refuses to use the Gulf of America and would rather use the historic and more known name such as the Gulf of Mexico. President Donald Trump has decided to bar them from all current and future presidential events because of it. The Associated Press has decided to respond by launching a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for violating their freedom of speech amendment. Their lawsuit says, “The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government.”
As of now, the Associated Press lawsuit continues to go through until the Trump Administration and the Associated Press agree.
