Google Maps formally up to date the identify of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on Monday.
Amongst many different government orders, President Donald Trump decreed on the day of his inauguration that the Gulf of Mexico could be renamed the Gulf of America. This government order additionally reverses an Obama-era transfer to rename Mount McKinley to Denali, the identify that Indigenous individuals have used for hundreds of years. Equally, the identify Gulf of Mexico has been essentially the most prevalent identify for the physique of water because the sixteenth century.
The president said that these names are a part of a gesture towards “[restoring] American delight within the historical past of American greatness.”
As of Monday afternoon, Google Maps customers in the US will see the Gulf of Mexico’s identify modified to be the Gulf of America. Worldwide customers will see each names, whereas Mexican customers will solely see the Gulf of Mexico. Google already said in January that it will adjust to Trump’s government order as soon as the place names have been up to date in the US’ Geographic Names Data System.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated she would ship a letter to Google questioning the corporate’s determination to rename the Gulf of Mexico on Google Maps. However Google’s determination to vary the identify of the gulf is per its present insurance policies round the best way to navigate naming variations between nations. Google adjustments Maps to align with the consumer’s native authorities.
Whereas Google has complied with Trump’s order, Apple has not but up to date the identify of the Gulf of Mexico or Denali on its Maps app. When looking out “Gulf of America” on Apple Maps, the app didn’t yield any outcomes.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner each attended Trump’s inauguration; Prepare dinner personally donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, whereas Google additionally made a $1 million contribution.