Big changes are coming to your Google Maps app.
In a move that’s sparked plenty of chatter, Google announced it would rename the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America” within the US, following updates to the US Geographic Names System.
Users in Mexico will still see the original name, while international users will spot both versions side by side.
Why Did Google Change The Name?
The Trump administration’s Interior Department officially made the change last week.
The name change comes alongside restoring the name of Alaska’s Denali—North America’s tallest mountain—to its former name, Mount McKinley.
Both changes were part of President Donald Trump’s executive orders issued hours after his inauguration on January 20.
“As directed by the President, the Gulf of Mexico will now officially be known as the Gulf of America,” the Interior Department said in a statement.
Interestingly, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum recently joked about renaming North America as “Mexican America” about historical maps of the region.
