Google Maps To Rename U.S. Landmarks After Executive Order
Google Maps will be renaming key American landmarks, including the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Denali mountain, following Trump Administration’s directives. The changes will happen once the federal Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) updates its database, Google announced on Monday.
The Executive Order and Name Changes
This is because of an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump that requires the renaming of several landmarks. The U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed the updates and said that geographic naming bodies are working to implement the changes “as soon as possible.”
Google’s X statement clarified their policy: “We follow official government sources for name changes.”
What Will Change on Google Maps?
For U.S. users, the Gulf of Mexico will soon be called the “Gulf of America,” a name newly introduced by the Trump Administration. Alaska’s Denali mountain will go back to its previous name, Mount McKinley. The mountain was renamed Denali in 2015 during the Obama administration to honor its native heritage. This change has been opposed by some Alaskan senators.
International Variations
Not all Google Maps users will see the new names. Names disputed between countries will be shown differently depending on the user’s location. For example, Mexican users will still see the Gulf as the “Gulf of Mexico” and in some areas both names will be shown side by side.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mocked Trump’s suggested new name for the gulf. But Google’s policy remains the same: name changes will follow official sources.
When Will the Changes Happen?
Google will implement these changes once the GNIS database updates. Despite the Interior Department’s announcement that the changes are official, GNIS still lists the Gulf of Mexico and Denali as of Monday night.
These name changes are a result of the intersection of politics, geography and technology and will spark debates across nations and among users worldwide.
