Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has formally urged Google to reconsider its decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," following former President Donald Trump's executive order to implement such changes. Sheinbaum's request came as Google announced it would comply with Trump's order, changing the name for users within the U.S. only.
During her morning press conference on January 30, 2025, she shared the content of her letter directed at the tech giant. The Mexican President argued the Gulf's name could only be altered within the territorial waters of the United States, adhering to international law as outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. "The name change could only correspond to the 12 nautical miles away from the coastlines of the United States of America," Sheinbaum stated, emphasizing Mexico's sovereignty over the Gulf of Mexico.
Critically, the name change has raised eyebrows internationally, as it primarily affects Google Maps users within the U.S. Users from Mexico and the rest of the world will continue to view the Gulf as the "Gulf of Mexico." This differentiation highlighted Sheinbaum's concerns, as she pointed out, "For us it is still the Gulf of Mexico, and for the entire world it is still the Gulf of Mexico," reinforcing the historical and geopolitical significance of the original name.
Sheinbaum did not stop at requesting the name change be halted; she humorously suggested Google take her proposals under consideration for other name changes. "We are also going to ask for Mexican America to appear on the map," she quipped, referencing early maps from 1607 which labeled the land known today as the U.S. as "America Mexicana." This playful jab at U.S. naming conventions underscored her broader critique of unilateral actions by the Trump administration.
Google justified its decision, noting its practice of updating place names when they are officially altered by government sources, adding complexity to what might appear as simply geographical nomenclature. According to their statement, the change aligns with their policy which presents local names relevant to the user, creating unique displays based on geopolitical boundaries.
This episode reflects the historical tensions between neighbors—drawing lines within shared waters and provoking reflections on sovereignty and identity. Trump’s previous actions as President included not only renaming the Gulf but also attempting to revert Mount Denali back to its former name of Mount McKinley, indicating broader motives to assert American heritage. "It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation and to celebrate the legacy of our American heroes," Trump stated during those announcements.
The back-and-forth highlights the fragility of international nomenclature and the vast impacts of modern technology on age-old maritime disputes. Critics argue Google's compliance signals obedience to U.S. government directives, potentially inflaming tensions with Mexico—a country which shares significant historical and cultural ties to the Gulf.
President Sheinbaum's pushback serves as both as affirmation of Mexico’s enduring attachment to its historical territories and questions about who truly controls the narrative of place names. While the formal requests and responses weave humor with serious diplomacy, they reflect broader underlying fears about national identity and historical legacies.
With Google’s decision expected to create divides among its users, Sheinbaum's efforts to maintain historical accuracy and assert Mexican sovereignty remain at the forefront of public discourse. The comments from both Sheinbaum and Trump suggest this tussle over geographic names will continue to resonate, echoing through both political corridors and the shared waters at the heart of their nations.