Apple has officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on its maps following a directive from President Donald Trump, now reflected in the U.S. Geographic Names Information System. This change aligns with similar actions taken by Google and Microsoft, both of which have updated their mapping services to reflect the new name.
Google previously announced its intention to implement this change, stating it would vary the names displayed based on user location. For instance, users in the U.S. will see Gulf of America, while those in Mexico will continue to see the traditional Gulf of Mexico. International users will have both names displayed.
This renaming effort stems from Trump’s order following his inauguration, which sought to rebrand the waterway that borders the southern United States, Mexico, and Cuba. The U.S. Geographic Names Information System formalized the name change over the weekend, prompting tech companies to update their maps accordingly.
While the Associated Press, which serves a global audience, recognizes the new name, it will continue to refer to the body of water by its historical designation, acknowledging the traditional Gulf of Mexico, which has been in use for over four centuries.
This ongoing dialogue about geographical names highlights the impact of political decisions on everyday references and the varying perceptions across different regions. The naming conventions may evolve over time, but it also opens up a larger conversation about how history is represented in today’s digital landscape.