Trump’s Executive Orders Spark Mapping Controversy
In January 2025, upon returning to office, former President Donald Trump signed several executive orders, including Executive Order 14172, which aimed to “Restore Names That Honor American Greatness.”A significant aspect of this order was the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America, ”along with reverting the name of Denali back to Mount McKinley. This decision ignited a wave of discussion and controversy across the nation.
Impact on Mapping Services
The implications of this order swiftly reached mapping services, compelling companies like Google to prepare for the upcoming changes. Google Maps, one of the leading navigation platforms globally, announced its intention to update its system once the federal updates were finalized. This response came even as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called upon the tech giant to adhere to United Nations guidelines and continue using the traditional name “Gulf of Mexico”across its platforms.
We’ve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps. We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.
— News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) January 27, 2025
Google Maps Updates Officially Announced
In response to the executive order, Google reaffirmed its commitment to updating its platform. In a recent blog post, the company confirmed that it would implement the changes to reflect the new name. The post stated:
In the U. S., the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) has officially updated ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to ‘Gulf of America.’ As we announced two weeks ago and consistent with our longstanding practices, we’ve begun rolling out changes to reflect this update. People using Maps in the U. S.will see ‘Gulf of America, ’ and people in Mexico will see ‘Gulf of Mexico.’ Everyone else will see both names.
The company also clarified that the displayed name would depend on a variety of factors including user location, network, and locale settings.
Broader Impact on Policy and Society
In less than a month since Trump’s return to office, we have witnessed significant developments across various sectors in America. Notably, the Musk-led project DOGE has gained access to the U. S.Treasury’s payment system, which raises notable cybersecurity concerns. This renaming initiative is just one among many orders Trump has signed, including:
- A 75-day delay on enforcing a federal TikTok ban, allowing for negotiations on ownership and operations.
- A deregulation initiative aimed at eliminating ten regulations for every new one proposed.
- A controversial order regarding transgender military service that revises recruitment and medical policies.
Such bold initiatives under the current administration are expected to stir further debate and shape the political landscape in the coming months.
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