In a move that has ignited debate across North America and beyond, Google Maps has changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’ for users in the United States. The change follows an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on January 20, his first day back in office, as part of an initiative to honor “American Greatness.”

The renaming of the Gulf has drawn both support and criticism, with many questioning the implications of a unilateral decision to alter the historical name of a major international body of water. While the Trump administration maintains that the change is a rightful assertion of American influence, critics argue that the move disregards centuries of geographical convention and global consensus.

On February 9, Trump issued an official proclamation recognizing the date as the first-ever ‘Gulf of America Day.’ He later took to his social media platform, Truth Social, posting a celebratory message: “GULF OF AMERICA!” The proclamation referenced the Gulf’s economic and strategic importance to the United States, particularly its role in energy production and trade.

Google, known for its policy of aligning with official government sources in name changes, swiftly followed suit after the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) formally adopted the new designation. In a blog

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