Google says it will take its cue from the US government if it has to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali on its maps.
The company said on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) that it would only make changes when the government updates its official listings for the body of water and the mountain.
After taking office, US President Donald Trump ordered that the water bordered by the Southern United States, Mexico and Cuba be renamed to the Gulf of America. He also ordered America’s highest mountain peak be changed back to Mount McKinley.
“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” Google said in a post on X.
The company said that Maps will reflect any updates to the Geographic Names Information System, a database of more than 1 million geographic features in the United States.
“When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the US quickly to show Mount McKinley and Gulf of America,” Google said.
“Also longstanding practice: When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name. Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names. That applies here too.”
“Denali” is the mountain’s preferred name for Alaska Natives.
Former President Barack Obama ordered it changed in 2015 from its previous name “McKinley”, which was a tribute to President William McKinley, designated in the late 19th century by a gold prospector.
The Associated Press, which provides news around the world to multiple audiences, will refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its original name, which it has carried for 400 years, while acknowledging the name Gulf of America.
AP will, however, use the name Mount McKinley instead of Denali; the area lies solely in the US and as president, Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country.
