Special Poll
Google announced on Monday that it will rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” in Google Maps, following its update in the U.S. Geographic Names System. Additionally, Denali, Alaska’s famous mountain, will revert to its earlier name, “Mount McKinley.”
In a statement on social media, Google clarified its naming policy: “We follow a longstanding practice of updating names on Google Maps in accordance with changes made by official government sources.” However, users outside the United States will see both names displayed on maps, reflecting the company’s global approach to geographic labeling.
These changes were prompted by President Donald Trump, who issued an executive order on his first day in office to fulfill a campaign promise. The federal government has since implemented his directive to rename both landmarks.
While the Gulf of Mexico renaming is a new development, the debate over the name of the nation’s highest peak has been ongoing for years, reflecting differing views on tradition and historical legacy.