Google Maps to Reflect Trump's Renaming of U.S. Landmarks

On January 27, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order titled 'Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness,' which officially renames the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and reinstates North America's highest peak as Mount McKinley. The U.S. Department of the Interior announced these changes, emphasizing the importance of preserving American heritage and honoring historical figures [c8a23cbe].

Following this executive order, Google Maps will implement these changes, renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Denali to Mount McKinley. This update is part of a broader initiative to promote national pride and will only be visible to U.S. users on the platform [2f319e82]. The order criticized former President Barack Obama's 2015 renaming of Denali, which had been adopted to recognize its significance to Alaska Natives [62496457][76370e0a]. However, the name Denali, meaning 'the high one' in Athabascan, has been a point of contention, especially among congressional members from Ohio, McKinley's home state, who have long advocated for the restoration of the original name [62496457].

Trump's executive order aims to preserve the legacies of historical figures such as President William McKinley, who was assassinated while in office. The order directs the Secretary of the Interior to work with Native Alaskan entities regarding landmark names and to update federal references to the Gulf of America, reflecting a broader discussion about historical recognition and the significance of names in American culture [e3a5db47].

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was the first to use the new name in an official order shortly before the executive announcement [62496457]. The name change has sparked mixed reactions across the U.S., with supporters like Elon Musk praising the decision, while critics express concerns about its implications for national identity and international recognition [e3a5db47]. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum responded ironically, maintaining the name Gulf of Mexico, which could lead to diplomatic challenges regarding the new name [e3a5db47]. Current Alaska state officials, including Democratic Sen. Scott Kawasaki and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, have voiced their opposition to the name change, advocating for the retention of Denali [76370e0a].