Mexico Battles Google Over ‘Gulf of America’ Rebrand Following Trump’s Order

Mexico has filed a lawsuit against tech giant Google over its decision to rebrand the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on maps shown to U.S. users. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the legal action but didn’t share details about where or when the case was filed. The lawsuit comes after months of letters between the countries failed to resolve the dispute.

The naming issue began when President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14172 on January 20, 2025. This order changed the name for U.S. federal purposes, and lawmakers later made it official in U.S. law. The gulf has been called the Gulf of Mexico since the 1550s, and polls show most Americans don’t support the name change.

Google updated its maps to show “Gulf of America” for U.S. users while keeping “Gulf of Mexico” for Mexican viewers. In other countries, the map shows both names. Google’s leaders say they’re following their policy of using government-approved names and won’t change course unless U.S. law changes. A letter from Google’s vice president stated the company would not alter its mapping policies despite Mexico’s objections.

Mexican officials argue that Trump’s order should only apply to U.S. waters, not the entire gulf that Mexico and Cuba also share. The Foreign Relations ministry sent formal requests asking Google not to use the new name for Mexican waters. Polling data from February 2025 revealed that 71% of Americans opposed the controversial name change, showing substantial alignment between Mexican and U.S. public opinion.

President Sheinbaum has strongly rejected the change and even joked that perhaps the U.S. should be labeled “Mexican America” in response, referring to land Mexico lost in the past. The dispute has stirred up national pride in Mexico.

The United Nations and most international groups still recognize “Gulf of Mexico” as the official name. While the U.S. can enforce the new name for its federal use, it can’t make other countries or private companies use it. The case highlights the challenges that arise when geography, politics, and technology collide in our digital world.