Trump Orders Gulf of Mexico Renamed to Gulf of America, Reverts Denali to Mt. McKinley

Jan 23, 2025, 03:30 PM

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order titled 'Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,' which includes plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and to revert the name of North America's highest mountain from Denali back to Mt. McKinley. These geographic renaming plans have left mapmakers and educators grappling with how to address these changes. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has already incorporated the new name 'Gulf of America' into an official document, while other states adjacent to the gulf are considering similar actions. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded with sarcasm, suggesting that Mexico might rename North America 'Mexican America' in response, though she later clarified that the Gulf of Mexico would retain its name globally. The Associated Press will continue to use the original names, acknowledging the new ones, while National Geographic plans to include explanatory notes for disputed place names. As of the latest reports, map applications like Google and Apple have not yet updated to reflect Trump's renaming. The gulf in question has a 3,700-mile coastline, and Trump's actions align with his 'America First' worldview. Peter Bellerby of Bellerby & Co. Globemakers in London is among those discussing how to handle such unprecedented changes.