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Mapmakers confront challenges from Trump’s proposals for geographic name changes in the Gulf.

What’s in a name change, really?
The waters enclosed by the Southern United States, Mexico, and Cuba will remain significant for both shipping routes and vacationers, regardless of whether they are labeled the Gulf of Mexico—its name for over 400 years—or the Gulf of America, a change recently proposed by President Donald Trump. Similarly, North America’s tallest mountain, towering in Alaska, will not lose its majesty whether it’s referred to as Mt. Denali, the name given by former President Barack Obama in 2015, or reverted to Mt. McKinley, as Trump suggested.
However, Trump’s declarations regarding names, echoing his “America First” ideology, have led to a re-evaluation among cartographers and educators, along with a wave of witty remarks on social media and a touch of sarcasm from other global leaders. While Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis included the term “Gulf of America” in an official document, it remains uncertain how widespread this renaming will become across other coastal states.
In a humorous take, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum remarked that if Trump proceeded with the name change, Mexico might then consider renaming all of North America as “Mexican America.” On a more measured note, she clarified that for Mexico and the rest of the globe, it will still be the Gulf of Mexico.
The politics intrinsic to map-making cannot be dismissed.
Maps signify more than locations; they reflect human significance and priorities, often revealing underlying political tensions and arguments, especially in a world that is increasingly interconnected.
There’s no universal guideline for naming geographical boundaries and features around the globe. The name “Denali” is preferred among Alaska Natives, while “McKinley” pays homage to President William McKinley, a nomenclature that dates back to the late 1800s when a gold miner first suggested it. China’s view of Taiwan as its territory, and the varied names for the South China Sea by neighboring nations, highlight the complexity involved in naming disputes.
The Persian Gulf has been recognized by that title since the 16th century, yet many Middle Eastern countries primarily refer to it as the “Arabian Gulf.” Moreover, in 2012, Iran (the former Persia) threatened legal action against Google for omitting the body of water’s name from its maps entirely. The lack of recognition for Israel in many Arab countries contrasts sharply with Israel’s reference to the occupied West Bank as “Judea and Samaria” in numerous formal contexts.
A similar divergence exists between American and Mexican residents regarding the river that demarcates the border between Texas and several Mexican states. Americans know it as the Rio Grande, while Mexicans refer to it as the Rio Bravo.
Trump’s executive order titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” states that embracing names honoring American history is in the country’s best interest and is meant for future generations to recognize the contributions of patriotic Americans to the nation’s legacy.
Yet, what should the lengthy stretch of coastline be referred to as?
“It’s internationally recognized as a body of water, but to be frank, a scenario such as this hasn’t arisen before, so I will need to consult the pertinent conventions,” commented Peter Bellerby from Bellerby & Co. Globemakers in London. He added that if Trump wished to rename the Atlantic Ocean as the American Ocean, it would likely be ignored.
For some, it’s crunch time.
As of the end of Wednesday, major mapping services like Google and Apple still designated the gulf and the mountain by their previous names. Representatives from these companies did not respond immediately to inquiries sent via email.
A spokesperson from National Geographic, a prominent mapping organization in the U.S., declined to comment on individual cases, emphasizing their aim to be apolitical and to rely on multiple authoritative sources for decisions made after extensive research. National Geographic also commits to including explanatory notes for place names that are contested, citing an example involving a body of water between Japan and Korea known respectively as the Sea of Japan and the East Sea.
Conversations on social media tackled this topic, highlighting various instances of name changes that were rarely accepted by the public. For instance, the Sears Tower in Chicago transitioned to the Willis Tower in 2009, yet the former name remains widely used. Pennsylvania’s capital, Harrisburg, switched from Market Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard before reverting back to Market Street amid considerable public uproar. In 2017, New York’s Tappan Zee Bridge was renamed for the late Governor Mario Cuomo, causing a significant public debate, although many continue to refer to it by its original name.
One user on Reddit posed the question, “Will we start teaching this as the official name for the body of water?”
Another responded, “You might inform students that some individuals prefer calling it the Gulf of America, but the global consensus is still the Gulf of Mexico. Provide a comprehensive explanation—let them know the recognized name and the aspirational one.”
Another user chimed in, “I’ll refer to it as the Gulf of America when I’m compelled to call the Tappan Zee the Mario Cuomo Bridge, which will be never.”

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