The Gulf of Mexico is to be called the Gulf of America as of Jan. 20, 2025. This change came from Executive Order 14172, signed by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office. The order, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” attempted to stir patriotism and promote the United States to the rest of the world. In an official statement from the White House, Trump said it has been essential for the country’s “early trade and global commerce,” and now is a “vital region for the multi-billion-dollar U.S. maritime industry.”

“In recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people, I am directing that it officially be renamed the Gulf of America,” Trump wrote.

Mexico, as the original namesake of the Gulf, has voiced strong opposition. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum argued that the executive order could only apply on territory controlled by the United States, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea:

“Every State has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baselines determined in accordance with this Convention.”

“Any extension beyond that zone exceeds the authority of any national government or private entity,” said Sheinbaum. “Should that be the case, the Government of Mexico will take the appropriate legal actions as deemed necessary.” 

On the other side of the spectrum is Google, who has updated the name on Google Maps. Apple and Microsoft have also followed suit. 

“People using Maps in the U.S. will see ‘Gulf of America,’ and people in Mexico will see ‘Gulf of Mexico,’” stated Google on Feb. 10. “Everyone else will see both names.”

Google has defended itself amid the controversy by saying they have always followed the names given by the nation’s Geographic Names Information System.

Executive Order 14172 also affected Mount Denali in Alaska, reverting it to its older name of Mount McKinley. The name Denali was first proposed back in 1975 by Alaskan Governor Hammond, who wanted to adopt the local Alaskan name for the mountain. Denali became the official name for North America’s highest peak in 2015.

According to Secretary Order 3424, the Secretary of the Interior has been directed to work with Alaskans to find names for other landmarks that “honor the history and culture of the Alaskan people.”