The Gulf of America is here to stay, despite Mexican leaders’ outrage over its official renaming. Following President Donald Trump’s executive order, major mapping platforms, including Google, Apple, and Bing, have updated their systems to reflect the change. Mexico’s protests have done little to reverse the decision, with U.S. territorial waters now accurately labeled.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has taken issue with the move, confirming that her administration requested Google restore the previous name. When the company refused, Sheinbaum suggested a lawsuit could be on the table. However, Google’s decision is in line with official U.S. geographic naming conventions, and the Gulf of America remains the correct designation.
Trump’s order, signed on January 20, ensured that all U.S. agencies recognized the new name. While Mexico argues the order applies only to U.S. waters, it has not stopped mapping services from updating their records. Encyclopedia Britannica and some media outlets continue to falsely label it the “Gulf of Mexico,” damaging their credibility by refusing to acknowledge the accurate name.
Google has adapted its naming based on location, keeping the Gulf of Mexico label for Mexican users while listing both Gulf of America and Gulf of Mexico elsewhere. Apple and Bing have done the same, reinforcing the shift to the correct terminology.
Sheinbaum’s threats of legal action appear to be little more than political theater, as Google has made clear its naming decisions follow official geographic authorities. Mexico’s frustration does not change the fact that the Gulf of America is now recognized across multiple platforms.
With the transition fully in motion, the name Gulf of America is gaining recognition, despite the seething of Mexican officials and their refusal to accept reality.
