Gulf of What Now? Trump’s proposals for geographic renaming challenge mapmakers on their next steps.

What significance does a name change hold?
The body of water flanked by the Southern United States, Mexico, and Cuba will remain essential for both transportation and tourism, regardless of whether it is termed the Gulf of Mexico, a name it has carried for four hundred years, or the Gulf of America, a designation recently sought by President Donald Trump. The highest peak in North America will still dominate the Alaskan landscape, whether referred to as Denali, as decided by former President Barack Obama in 2015, or reverted to its former title of Mt. McKinley, as ordered by Trump.

Trump’s declaration regarding territorial names aligns with his “America First” ideology, leading to a re-evaluation among educators and cartographers, as well as a mixture of jests and sarcasm on social media. While Florida Governor Ron DeSantis incorporated the term “Gulf of America” in an official document and some adjacent states pondered following suit, the extent of others adopting Trump’s nomenclature remained uncertain.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum humorously suggested that should Trump pursue the renaming, Mexico might rename North America as “Mexican America.” However, on Tuesday, she softened her tone, asserting, “For us, and for the entire world, it will continue to be called the Gulf of Mexico.”

The role of politics in geography is undeniable.
Mapmaking carries political implications as the drawings symbolize regions significant to human society—priorities that are often sensitive and contentious, especially in a globalized context where multiple nations might utilize identical maps.

There is no universally accepted framework for naming the Earth’s boundaries and geographical features. For instance, “Denali” is the name preferred by locals in Alaska, whereas “McKinley” honors the late President William McKinley, a title assigned in the late 19th century by a gold seeker. Taiwan’s status remains contentious as China claims it as part of its territory, while diverse nations surrounding what is known as the South China Sea in the United States have various names for that maritime region.

Similarly, the Persian Gulf is recognized by that title since the 16th century, even though “Arabian Gulf” is preferred in several Middle Eastern countries. Iran once considered legal action against Google due to the tech giant’s refusal to label the region on its maps. Moreover, many Arab nations do not acknowledge Israel and refer to it as Palestine instead, while Israel often uses biblical names like “Judea and Samaria” for the occupied West Bank in official statements.

In another instance, when discussing a vital waterway separating Texas and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas, Americans refer to it as the Rio Grande, while in Mexico, it is known as the Rio Bravo.

Trump’s executive order, titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” states: “It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation and ensure future generations of American citizens celebrate the legacy of our American heroes. The naming of our national treasures, including breathtaking natural wonders and historic works of art, should honor the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans in our Nation’s rich past.”

Yet the question remains—what should this gulf, with its extensive 3,700-mile coastline, be called?
“It is, I suppose, an internationally recognized sea, but honestly, a situation like this has never arisen, so I need to verify the proper conventions,” commented Peter Bellerby, who is in discussions with the cartographers at his London-based company, Bellerby & Co. Globemakers. “If he wanted to label the Atlantic Ocean as the American Ocean, we would likely ignore it.”

For some, deadlines are approaching.
As of Thursday afternoon, digital mapping platforms from Google and Apple still displayed the mountain and gulf using their traditional names. Representatives from these companies have not immediately replied to inquiries sent via email.

A representative from National Geographic, a leading U.S. mapmaker, noted this week that the organization does not comment on specific cases and directed inquiries to a general statement on their website, which highlights their mission to remain apolitical and consult multiple authoritative sources for guidance. National Geographic also maintains a policy of providing explanatory notes for disputed place names, pointing out, for instance, the differing titles for the body of water separating Japan and the Korean Peninsula, known as the Sea of Japan in Japan and the East Sea in Korea.

One prominent global news organization will continue to refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its traditional name while recognizing the new title “Gulf of America.” They will, however, utilize the name Mount McKinley rather than Denali, as this mountain solely resides within U.S. territory, and as president, Trump has the right to alter federal geographical designations domestically.

Additionally, a spokesperson from the Interior Department reported on Thursday that the staff are reliably working toward adhering to the president’s executive order without delay.

On social media, discussions unfolded, highlighting past renaming instances. For instance, the Sears Tower in Chicago was rebranded as the Willis Tower in 2009 but is still widely known by its former name. Similarly, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, experienced a change from Market Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard before reverting to its original name, with significant public outcry both times. New York’s Tappan Zee Bridge received considerable backlash when it was renamed after the late Governor Mario Cuomo in 2017. While the new name appears on maps, many still refer to it by its original title.

One social media user asked, “Will we start teaching this new name for the body of water?”
To which another responded, “You might tell students that SOME PEOPLE wish to call it the Gulf of America, but the rest of the globe recognizes it as the Gulf of Mexico.” They suggested covering all perspectives, noting that students should learn both the widely accepted name and “wishful” name.

Another user commented, “I’ll refer to it as the Gulf of America when the Tappan Zee is recognized as the Mario Cuomo Bridge, which is to say, never.”