Google Maps will also change the label "Gulf of Mexico" for the United States to "Gulf of America" after it is updated in the Geographic Names System here in the States. The Alphabet company announced this Tuesday in a note on X.

What will be changed?

For the United States, it will show as the "Gulf of America", while using Google Maps, but users in Mexico will still see it being known as the "Gulf of Mexico" For all other people around the world outside these two countries, they will see the two names.

Google Maps is also ready for another update following the same order: changing North America's highest mountain, Denali, back to Mount McKinley

Who issued the name changes?

The name changes were one of President Donald Trump's executive orders, released on his first day in office, January 20. The Interior Department said:

"As ordered by the President, the Gulf of Mexico will henceforth be officially known as the Gulf of America, and North America's highest peak will once again bear the name Mount McKinley."

These measures satisfied one of Trump's campaign promises.

How has Mexico reacted?

Earlier this month, Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, playfully remarked that the United States should be renamed "Mexican America"—a reference to an ancient map that once used this name for the region.

Why is Google making this change?

Google usually updates its names in line with the official name changes. For places in naming conflicts, Google employs a method of displaying numerous names based on local points of view.

For instance,

Most nations refer to the sea between South Korea and Japan as the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

The Persian Gulf has also become controversial. Following a protest by Iran in 2012 when Google decided to remove its name from maps, Google now labels it as "Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)" according to the country.

Google confirmed it would follow the official US versions. Still, people in every nation will still see a name based on the perspective of their own nation. Google aims at neutrality in national arguments.