Google to Adopt Trump’s Proposed Names for Denali and Gulf of Mexico
The tech giant confirms it will update Google Maps to reflect new federal name changes once they are officially recognized.
Google announced Monday that it will update its maps to use President Donald Trump’s preferred names for Denali and the Gulf of Mexico—Mount McKinley and Gulf of America—once the changes are made official by federal agencies.
In an executive order signed on Jan. 20, his first day back in office, Trump directed the Interior Secretary to implement these name changes within 30 days.
According to the order, the changes must be reflected in the federal Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which is managed by the U.S. Geological Survey under the Interior Department. Officials from the survey have yet to respond to inquiries about the directive.
Trump’s nominee for Interior Secretary, former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, recently faced Senate confirmation hearings on Jan. 16, where the issue was raised.
In a statement posted on X, Google emphasized its adherence to official government naming conventions.
"We have a long-standing practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources," the company stated. "Once GNIS makes the updates, we will quickly reflect the new names, Mount McKinley and Gulf of America, on Google Maps in the U.S."
However, the company noted that international recognition of place names may differ. If other countries do not adopt the new names, Google Maps will continue displaying Denali and the Gulf of Mexico outside the United States.
The proposed renaming has met resistance, particularly from Alaskan lawmakers who argue that "Denali" is a vital acknowledgment of the state’s Indigenous heritage.
Apple, which also operates its own mapping service, has not commented on whether it will follow Google’s lead.
Trump justified renaming Denali by highlighting former President William McKinley’s commitment to American economic expansion. "Under his leadership, the United States experienced rapid economic growth and territorial expansion," his order stated.
Regarding the Gulf of Mexico, Trump linked his proposed name change to his broader immigration stance, criticizing Mexico for what he called inadequate border enforcement.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded on Jan. 8 with a tongue-in-cheek suggestion to rename the United States as "America Mexicana," referencing historical ties dating back to 1607.
The Associated Press (AP), a major global news organization, has stated that it will recognize the name change to Mount McKinley, given its prior official usage before the Obama administration reinstated the Indigenous name, Denali.
"The AP will use the official change to Mount McKinley," said Amanda Barrett, the AP’s vice president of standards and inclusion. "The location is solely within the United States, and as president, Trump has the authority to alter federal geographical names."
The AP Stylebook, which provides language guidance for journalists, will be updated accordingly.
However, the AP has taken a different stance on renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
"The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years," Barrett said. "The AP will continue to refer to it by its historical name while acknowledging Trump’s designation. As a global news agency, we must ensure that geographic names remain recognizable to international audiences."
The AP also pointed out that different names for geographical features are not uncommon, noting that the body of water bordering Mexico’s Pacific coast is known as both the Gulf of California and the Sea of Cortez, depending on the country of reference.