Mexico Warns of Legal Action Against Google Over 'Gulf of America' Name Change

Mexico has warned of a potential lawsuit against Google over its renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" for U.S. users, a decision made in response to President Trump’s executive order.

On Thursday, Mexico issued a threat to sue Google over the company’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" on its Maps app for users in the United States, in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum made the announcement during a press briefing, stating, "We do have a dispute with Google at the moment, and if necessary, we will file a civil suit."

Trump’s executive orders, signed shortly after his January 20 inauguration, included renaming the Gulf of Mexico and restoring the name of North America's highest peak, Denali, back to Mount McKinley. However, Sheinbaum clarified that the order referred specifically to the U.S. portion of the continental shelf, not the entire Gulf.

In a letter sent to Google, Mexico raised concerns over the renaming, but the tech giant continued to use the altered name. Sheinbaum threatened legal action if Google persisted in its position, asserting that the name change encroaches on Mexican territory, specifically the Mexican continental shelf.

As a playful response to Trump’s move, Sheinbaum suggested that the U.S. could be renamed "Mexican America," referencing a historical map from before 1848, when a significant portion of Mexico was seized by the United States.

Google responded by stating that U.S. users would see "Gulf of America" while users in Mexico would continue to see the traditional "Gulf of Mexico." For other regions, both names would appear. Apple has also made the change on its maps for U.S. users in compliance with Trump’s order.

The renaming initiative has stirred controversy, particularly among Indigenous groups in Alaska who have long fought to preserve the Denali name.

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