Apple has renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on its Maps platform following an official update by the US Geographic Names Information System. The change, made on Tuesday, comes after an executive order by former President Donald Trump, who had directed that the body of water bordered by the Southern United States, Mexico, and Cuba be renamed.
The move follows Google, which announced last month that it would implement the change once the official listing was updated. In a blog post on Sunday, Google confirmed that users in the US would see “Gulf of America,” while users in Mexico would continue to see “Gulf of Mexico.” For users in other countries, both names would be displayed. Google justified the decision by citing its policy of adhering to official US government geographic designations.
Microsoft has also updated its Bing Maps to reflect the new name.
The renaming has sparked criticism from indigenous activists and has led to diplomatic tensions with Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded with a pointed remark, suggesting that the United States should be renamed ‘Mexican America,’ referencing historical maps from before the US took control of nearly a third of Mexico’s territory in 1848.
The controversy is reminiscent of Trump’s earlier executive order reversing the 2015 decision to rename America’s highest peak Denali, restoring its previous name, Mt. McKinley. The mountain had been officially renamed under President Barack Obama in response to longstanding demands from Alaska Native groups.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press (AP) has stated that it will continue referring to the Gulf by its original name, which it has carried for over 400 years, while acknowledging the new designation.
