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In a move reflecting recent federal directives, Google has announced plans to update its mapping services to align with President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness”. This order mandates the renaming of several prominent United States geographical features, including reverting Denali to Mount McKinley and renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Google’s decision follows the Department of the Interior’s announcement that these name changes are effective immediately for federal use. The company stated that it will implement these updates on Google Maps once the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) reflects the changes in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). For United States users, the Gulf of Mexico will be labeled as the Gulf of America, whilst international users will see both names displayed. Similarly, Denali will be labelled as Mount McKinley across all platforms.
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The renaming of Denali has been a subject of contention for decades. Originally named Mount McKinley in 1896 after President William McKinley, the peak was officially renamed Denali in 2015 by the Obama administration, honoring the indigenous Koyukon Athabascan name meaning “The Great One”. President Trump’s recent executive order reverses this decision, reinstating the Mount McKinley designation. The Gulf of Mexico, a vital body of water for the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, has been recognised by its current name for centuries. President Trump’s executive order renames it the Gulf of America within United States federal usage, citing its significance to the nation’s economy and heritage. This change has elicited varied reactions domestically and internationally. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stated that Mexico will continue to refer to the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico.
Google’s adherence to these federal naming conventions underscores the complex relationship between technology platforms and governmental directives. As these changes are implemented, they highlight the ongoing debates surrounding national identity, historical recognition, and the role of digital platforms in reflecting or challenging official narratives.
