Google confirms name change on Maps to the Gulf of Mexico but there's one major catch
Topics: Politics, US News, Donald Trump, Google, Google Maps
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/SOPA Images
Topics: Politics, US News, Donald Trump, Google, Google Maps
For anyone wondering if the name of the Gulf of Mexico will be updated to the Gulf of America on Google Maps, the company has now explained exactly what will happen.
President Trump has been in office for just over a week and he's certainly not wasted any time in getting stuck in.
Trump has signed off on numerous executive orders - which included halting the ban of TikTok, changing laws on immigration, and declaring that there are 'only two genders'.
And the 47th president has also announced plans to have the Gulf of Mexico's name changed to the Gulf of America.
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In yet another new executive order, the Gulf was described as 'an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation and has remained an indelible part of America', as well as 'a crucial artery for America’s early trade and global commerce'.
Speaking about the name change during his inauguration speech last week, Trump said: "America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on Earth, inspiring the awe and admiration of the entire world.
"A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America."
Google has abided to this name change with Maps, but the name you see on your device very much depends on where you are in the world.
A Google spokesperson said: "We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.
“When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the US quickly to show Mount McKinley and Gulf of America.
“Also longstanding practice: When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name.
“Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names. That applies here too.”
The name change has been met with some criticism across the world, with Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum perhaps unsurprisingly, the harshest critic.
"[Trump] says that he will call it the 'Gulf of America' on its continental shelf. For us it is still the Gulf of Mexico and for the entire world it is still the Gulf of Mexico," Sheinbaum said last week.
She added: "Regarding the decrees that President Donald Trump signed yesterday, I would like to say the following: The people of Mexico can be sure that we will always defend our sovereignty and our independence."
Despite that, Trump's Administration has wasted no time in implementing the name change.