The name change from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America began rolling out across the U.S. on Monday, marking a historic shift following President Donald Trump’s executive order. Just a month after the announcement, Google Maps and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) have officially recognized the new name, prompting widespread reactions across social media and political circles.
Official Recognition by FAA and Google Maps
On Monday, the FAA issued a charting notice confirming that its systems were being updated to reflect the change. The notice also included another significant renaming—Denali, which was reverted to its previous name, Mount McKinley, under the same executive order.
The FAA’s official statement read:
“Please be advised that the FAA is in the process of updating our data and charts to show a name change from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and a name change from Denali to Mount McKinley. This will be targeted for the next publication cycle.”
This change aligns with Executive Order 14172, titled Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness, which was signed by President Trump to emphasize historical American significance in geographical naming conventions.
Trump’s Announcement and Justification
President Trump initially announced the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico on January 7, stating his intention to Americanize the name. During a public speech, he elaborated:
“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring. That covers a lot of territory. The Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate.“
Shortly after, Trump signed an executive order finalizing the decision, making the name change official in federal records.
Google Maps Updates and Social Media Reaction
The implementation of this change became evident when users started noticing updates on Google Maps. Many took to social media, especially X (formerly Twitter), to share their excitement:
- “Google Maps FINALLY recognizes the Gulf of America! Isn’t it beautiful?”
- “I hate Google, but tbh, mine says Gulf of America zoomed all the way out, and boy is it glorious.”
- “Google Maps bows to Trump.”
Google confirmed that it follows official government naming conventions when updating its geographic names.
“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources. That applies here too,” Google Maps stated in an X post.
Apple Maps is expected to follow suit soon, with minor discrepancies in updates still being resolved.
February 9 Declared ‘Gulf of America Day’
In a related move, Trump signed a proclamation declaring February 9 as ‘Gulf of America Day’, marking an official observance of the name change.
The White House released an X post stating:
“Air Force One is currently in international waters, the first time in history flying over the recently renamed Gulf of America.”
Trump justified the move in the official proclamation, stating:
“The area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico has long been an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation and has remained an indelible part of America.”
Backlash and Global Perspective
While many in the U.S. have welcomed the change, international reaction has been mixed. Several Latin American countries, particularly Mexico, have objected to the renaming, stating that the Gulf of Mexico is historically and geographically recognized under its existing name.
In contrast, U.S. officials maintain that Google Maps, Apple Maps, and official government charts will reflect the new designation, at least within the United States.
Google clarified that in other parts of the world, the name Gulf of Mexico will still be visible alongside the Gulf of America, ensuring that global recognition remains unaffected.
What’s Next?
With Google Maps, the FAA, and federal agencies implementing the change, the Gulf of America is set to become the standard nomenclature across government records and navigation services in the U.S. Travelers, businesses, and educational institutions will gradually adapt to the new terminology in upcoming publications and maps.
The name change follows a broader effort under the Trump administration to reclaim American identity in historical landmarks and geographical names, reinforcing what supporters see as a patriotic rebranding effort.
As updates continue to roll out across Google Maps, Apple Maps, and various US maps, the debate over the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America is likely to persist. Whether this will be permanently adopted worldwide remains to be seen, but for now, in the U.S., the Gulf of America is here to stay.
