The executive order aims to rename national landmarks, including reinstating the federal designation "Mount McKinley" and designating theGulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America".
The executive order directsU.S. federal agencies to refer to theGulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" andDenali, the highest mountain in North America, as "Mount McKinley" (its federal designation from 1917 to 2015). The order further outlines the process for updating theUnited States Board on Geographic Names (BGN).
The executive order is not binding on U.S. state governments and the private sector, although several major online map platforms, U.S.-based media outlets, andRepublican-led state governments voluntarily moved to adopt the names outlined in the order. Many governments internationally, including Mexico, continue to use "Gulf of Mexico" rather than the new name.
The BGN is authorized to standardize geographicalendonyms and exonyms within theU.S. federal government. Within the BGN, the Foreign Names Committee is responsible for maintaining the names ofinternational waters such as the Gulf.[2][3] Ordinarily, the BGN does not performgeographical renaming but rather recognizes existing names to align federal usage with local usage, eliminate offensive names, or combine duplicate records.[4]
Publishers have established editorial policies on the selection and presentation of disputed geographical names. The stated policy ofNational Geographic Maps is to aim for political neutrality, annotating disputes with explanatory notes.[5] In 2008,Google published a "primary local usage" policy forGoogle Maps andGoogle Earth, stating a preference for "names which are in widespread daily use, rather than giving immediate recognition to any arbitrary governmental re-naming", giving thePacific Ocean as a hypothetical example.[6] In practice, Google Maps omits some official designations, for example varying the label of theSouth China Sea but not labeling theWest Philippine Sea as designated by thePhilippine Maritime Zones Act.[7][8]
Located inAlaska,Denali is the tallest mountain in North America. For centuries, Alaska Natives have called it Denali, meaning "the high one" in theKoyukon language. Their descriptive name for the mountain contrasts with European settlers' practice of naming mountains after individuals.[9] In 1917, the U.S. federal government named it Mount McKinley, in honor of PresidentWilliam McKinley, with the establishment of Mount McKinley National Park. The Alaska state government later designated it Denali, and the park was renamedDenali National Park and Preserve in 1980.[4] In August 2015, Interior SecretarySally Jewell announced that mountain's name would officially be changed to Denali in all federal documents.[10][11] PresidentBarack Obama announced the renaming while on a visit to Alaska in early September 2015.[12] TheObama administration's action was criticized by the entire congressional delegation from President McKinley's home state of Ohio, as well as thenpresidential candidate Donald Trump, who pledged to change the federal designation back.[13]
In December 2024, President-elect Donald Trump stated atAmericaFest that he planned to revert the mountain's official federal name to Mount McKinley during his second term. Trump's proposal was met with criticism from many prominent Alaskans.[14][15] Early the next month, a poll by Alaska Survey Research found that, among 1,816 adult Alaska residents, 54% opposed renaming Denali to Mount McKinley, 26% supported it, and 20% had no opinion on the matter, with a margin of error of 2.3%. The poll found a partisan split, with those who had voted for Trump favoring Mount McKinley by 43% to 37% and those who had voted for then-Vice PresidentKamala Harris favoring Denali by 86% to 7%.[16]
The idea of renaming the gulf to "Gulf of America"[18] arose much later. As chair of the BGN in the 2000s, librarianJohn R. Hébert received repeated petitions to this effect from one individual.[19] In 2010, comedianStephen Colbert humorously suggested creating a "Gulf of America fund" to help in the cleanup following theDeepwater Horizon oil spill.[a] In 2012,Mississippi state representativeSteve Holland, a Democrat, introduced a bill proposing the name change satirically. In an interview withNPR at the time, he explained that as theMississippi Republican Party appeared to want to push anything Mexican out of the state, renaming the body of water would help with that cause.[b][24]
Dutch cartographers influenced byPetrus Plancius conceived of the Americas as the Mexican and Peruvian continents, illustrated here on a modern world map.
In early January 2025, president-elect Trump made public statements about renaming the waters as the "Gulf of America". RepresentativeMarjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia responded by introducing House Resolution 276 to rename the gulf.[25][4] At a press briefing, PresidentClaudia Sheinbaum of Mexico mocked the idea by suggesting that North America be renamed to "Mexican America" (Spanish:América Mexicana), citing the 1814Constitution of Apatzingán[26][27] andPieter van den Keere'sOrbis terrarum typus de integro multis in locis emendatus (1607).[c] AHarvard CAPS/Harris poll of 2,650 U.S. registered voters found that 28% of respondents supported adopting the name "Gulf of America" while 72% opposed changing the name.[29][30]
Agency heads are directed to review and potentially replace their appointees to the BGN. The secretary of the interior is tasked with reviewing and making additional appointments to help implement the order. The BGN is instructed to advance the policy of honoring "American heroes" in its naming and renaming decisions.[1]
The order directs the secretary of the interior to reinstate the name "Mount McKinley" within 30 days, reversing the 2015 decision to rename it Denali. The surrounding national park area will retain the name Denali National Park and Preserve. The Secretary will also work with Alaska Native groups and local organizations to identify other landmark names that honor Alaskan history and culture.[1]
Citing theGulf of Mexico's importance to the U.S. economy and global commerce, the order directs the Secretary of the Interior to rename it to "Gulf of America" within 30 days, updating theGeographic Names Information System (GNIS) and ensuring that all federal documents reflect the new name. The order defines the affected body of water as the "U.S. Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the States ofTexas,Louisiana,Mississippi,Alabama andFlorida and extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico andCuba in the area formerly named as the Gulf of Mexico".[1] The original draft of the order focused on renaming Denali; after President Trump's statements regarding the gulf in January 2025, the provision renaming the gulf was hastily added to the draft.[32]
The Secretary of the Interior is encouraged to seek public and intergovernmental input regarding other figures or landmarks that could be honored, particularly in light of America's upcoming250th anniversary.[1]
The order clarifies that it does not alter the authority of any executive department or agency, nor does it create new legal rights. It must be implemented in accordance with applicable law and the availability of appropriations.[1]
The executive order cites43 U.S.C.§ 364, which tasks the BGN with promoting uniformity in geographic nomenclature within the federal government. Former interior secretarySally Jewell, whose order designating the mountain as Denali was rescinded, stated that she did not believe that Trump had direct authority to rename the mountain back to Mount McKinley, since it was under the authority of the BGN.[33] The executive order does not compel the use of "Mount McKinley" and "Gulf of America" by non-federal agencies, private companies, or foreign entities.[4]
PresidentClaudia Sheinbaum of Mexico argues that the U.S. government only has the legal authority to rename the U.S.territorial sea within the gulf, up to 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) from the coast, based on the provisions of theUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. However, the U.S. has never ratified the convention despite recognizing some of its provisions.[34][35][36]
On January 24, 2025, theDepartment of the Interior announced that the names Mount McKinley and "Gulf of America" were effective immediately for federal use, and that the BGN was working to update theGeographic Names Information System (GNIS) to reflect the order.[38] In early February, Interior SecretaryDoug Burgum issued Secretary's Orders 3423 and 3424, directing the BGN to update GNIS with "Gulf of America" and "Mount McKinley", respectively.[39] The BGN rejected several proposals to revert Mount McKinley back to Denali, because overriding an executive order would require Congressional intervention.[40]
President Trump signs the proclamation designating Gulf of America Day aboard Air Force One.
Initially, the order's description of the gulf created uncertainty among mapmakers about the extent to which the gulf would be renamed.[3] PresidentClaudia Sheinbaum of Mexico maintains that the order only directed the secretary of the interior to rename the portion on the U.S. continental shelf, and that the legal authority to rename the gulf is limited to U.S. territorial waters.[36] However, Secretary Burgum subsequently ordered the renaming of "the feature currently known as the Gulf of Mexico",[39] and the modified records in both GNIS and GNS explicitly refer to the gulf as a whole, without distinguishing territorial waters or the continental shelf.[45][46]
In May 2025, the House of Representatives passed the Gulf of America Act, to codify the name "Gulf of America" in law, by a margin of 211 to 206. RepresentativeMarjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia had introduced the resolution in January ahead of the executive order. It is uncertain whether the Senate will take up the bill.[58] Congressional Democrats, including SenatorAdam Schiff of California, had previously said that they are prioritizing other issues over President Trump's geographical renaming activities.[59]
Alaska officials opposed the order to rename Denali to Mount McKinley. On February 7, 2025, theAlaska State Legislature passed ajoint resolution urging the federal government to retain Denali as the mountain's official federal designation. TheAlaska State Senate voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.[60][61] On February 13, 2025, Alaska's U.S. senators,Lisa Murkowski andDan Sullivan, both Republicans, co-sponsored legislation to officially redesignate the mountain as Denali.[62]
TheLouisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved a change to the state standard for social studies instruction to use "Gulf of America", starting in the 2025–2026 school year.[63] TheOklahoma State Board of Education approved an updated social studies standard that required the use of "Gulf of America" and "Mount McKinley",[64][65] as well as mandating teaching of the Bible andelection denialism. Despite criticism from Democrats that SuperintendentRyan Walters had politicized the process,[66][67] the legislature took no action and the standards went into effect for the 2025–2026 school year.[68]
Officials in several other Republican-led states moved to align state usage with the executive order:
Alabama: RepresentativeDavid Standridge introduced legislation that would require all state and local government agencies, including schools and parks, to adopt "Gulf of America" in publications and communications and phase out use of "Gulf of Mexico".[69] State officials expressed concern that renaming theGulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 could risk federal interference in millions of dollars of oil and gas revenues that the act directs to state programs.[70]
Florida: Agriculture CommissionerWilton Simpson directed theFlorida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to adopt "Gulf of America" in all the department's administrative rules and publications.[73] SenatorNick DiCeglie introduced a bill that would replace every occurrence of "Gulf of Mexico" in state law with "Gulf of America".[74] In the past, the state legislature has uncontroversially passed "reviser's bills" to update statutory terminology.[75] SenatorJoe Gruters introduced a bill that would require school boards to update any references to the gulf in educational materials and would also rename a portion ofU.S. Route 41 currently known asTamiami Trail to "Gulf of America Trail".[76] However, on March 4, Gruters withdrew the proposal to rename the highway due to public criticism.[77] TheRepublican Party of Florida promoted the renaming on a series of electronic billboards on highways along theFlorida panhandle.[78][79]
Iowa: A bill in theIowa House of Representatives would require schools to use "Gulf of America" and Mount McKinley in classroom instruction and on any handouts given to students.[80]
Michigan: On May 7, 2025, Republicans in the state'sHouse of Representatives passed a resolution that urges but does not require all public bodies, agencies, and departments in the state to use "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico". Rep.Matt Maddock initially put forth a bill to require state and local governments to make the change, but withdrew it due to a lack of support from House Democrats.[81]
Mississippi: GovernorTate Reeves said he would call it the "Gulf of America".[82]
Tennessee: SenatorBo Watson introduced a resolution that would encourage schoolteachers to use both "Gulf of America" and "Mount McKinley".[83]
Texas: RepresentativeBriscoe Cain introduced a bill and joint resolution to change the gulf's name for state purposes, which would require an amendment to theConstitution of Texas.[84]
In Russia, the executive order prompted DeputyDenis Bulanov of theSaratov Oblast Duma to propose renaming theBlack Sea to "Russian Sea" domestically.[85] GovernorJB Pritzker of Illinois, a Democrat, released a video parodying the executive order by claiming to renameLake Michigan back toLake Illinois.[86] Alluding to the renaming of the gulf, Lieutenant GovernorDan Patrick of Texas announced a plan to rebrandNew York strip steak as "Texas strip".[87] In New Jersey, State SenatorMike Testa introduced a bill to require the state government to refer toDelaware Bay as the "Bay of New Jersey".[88]
Google Maps presents translations of both names to users overseas, such asGolf von Mexiko withGolf von Amerika to German speakers in Germany.
Some major American map services voluntarily relabeled the gulf.Google added the United States and Mexico to an internal list of "sensitive" countries that require special consideration on maps, alongside China, Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and others.[104] On January 27, 2025, the company announced thatGoogle Maps andGoogle Earth would relabel both the Gulf of Mexico and Denali as soon as GNIS was updated. The gulf would appear as "Gulf of America" to users in the U.S., as Gulf of Mexico to users in Mexico, and as both names to users elsewhere, based on the Internet connection location.[105] Google implemented the Gulf of America and Mount McKinley labels in early February, immediately following updates to GNIS.[106][107]
Apple Maps andBing Maps also updated references to "Gulf of America" and "Mount McKinley", following criticism from Republican officials.[108][109] In Apple Maps, the gulf's label depends on the user's chosenlocale setting rather than their physical location.[110]Esri released a new series of basemaps forArcGIS that are designed for U.S. government customers, labeling both "Mount McKinley" and "Gulf of America" and depicting boundaries as recognized by theU.S. State Department. The new basemaps will be shown toArcGIS Online visitors who are located in the U.S. or use a U.S. locale, while others will continue to see more neutral international basemaps.[111]
MapQuest did not rename the gulf on their main map, citing their own obsolescence in self-deprecating social media posts, but instead published a tool that allows users topersonalize the gulf's label and share the resulting map on social media.[112]Yandex stated thatYandex Maps would maintain the gulf's traditional name for its Russian-speaking users.Huawei stated thatPetal Maps would maintain the traditional name as a competitive advantage against Google Maps.[113]
In February 2025, PresidentClaudia Sheinbaum of Mexico objected to Google's relabeling of the Gulf and had Foreign SecretaryJuan Ramón de la Fuente send Google a letter threatening a civil lawsuit if they did not restore Gulf of Mexico to their maps, arguing that their depiction contradicts international law. She stated that theLegal Counsel of the Federal Executive was looking into the matter.[34][36][114] The following month, her administration filed suit against Google's Mexican subsidiary before the Tenth Civil District Court in Mexico City (Spanish:Juzgado Décimo de Distrito en Materia Civil en la Ciudad de México), seeking damages, restoration of the Gulf of Mexico label across the company's products, and a clarification that the name "Gulf of America" only applies to portions of the continental shelf under U.S. control. However, Judge Eduardo León Sandoval dismissed the lawsuit on jurisdictional and standing grounds.[115] In May, Sheinbaum confirmed that her administration has sued Google and implied a favorable ruling.[116][117]
Mark Monmonier, the author ofHow to Lie with Maps, criticized Google's decision to acquiesce to what he described as President Trump's bullying.[118]John Gruber argues that large technology companies cannot realistically ignore the name "Gulf of America", comparing the label to the falsely enlargedDiaoyu Islands that Chinese users see in Apple Maps due to government regulations, but he criticizes Apple and Google for erasing references to "Gulf of Mexico" and for not limiting the changes to U.S. users.[110]
Internet users opposed to theTrump administration's actions reacted byreview bombing Google Maps on theApp Store and the gulf's entry in Google Maps, leading Google to disable reviews of the gulf.[119][120] Vandals targeted theMall of America in Minnesota[121] and theVoice of America Center[122] and Voice of America MetroPark[123] in Ohio, briefly renaming them after Mexico. In Germany, Google Maps users added a raft of fake names of bodies of water, including six gulfs in theBonn area alone, poking fun at the executive order, Google's compliance with it, and in some cases local crosstown rivalries.[124]
Among print publishers,Rand McNally stated that they would wait for the Department of the Interior to conduct legal and public review before making any adjustments to their atlases.[127] The gulf's label remains unchanged in their 2026 road atlas of North America.[128] Japanese map and textbook publisher Teikoku Shoin said they would maintain the name Gulf of Mexico for the 2025–2026 school year and would reassess afterwards.[129]
TheEncyclopædia Britannica renamed their entries for Denali and the Gulf of Mexico to "Mount McKinley" and the "Gulf of Mexico / Gulf of America", while keeping "Gulf of Mexico" for all references to the gulf in other entries,[130][131] after stating that they would retain "Gulf of Mexico" for their mostly international audience.[132][133] An online merchant quickly capitalized on the executive order, selling out of Gulf of America-branded globes, maps, and other merchandise.[134] Iranian publisher Gitashenasi issued aPersian language map of the United States that labels the gulf as both "Gulf of America" (خلیج امریکا) and "Gulf of Mexico" (خلیج مکزیک).[135]
Cultural institutions have expressed concern that recent changes by theNational Endowment for the Arts could jeopardize federal grants for works of literature that contradict the Trump administration's executive orders, including by referring to the Gulf of Mexico by its traditional name.[136]
BP andChevron, which have extensive leases in the gulf, have begun calling it the "Gulf of America", including retroactively, referring to the 2010Deepwater Horizon oil spill as the "Gulf of America oil spill".[32]
Some seafood distributors in Louisiana are adding "Gulf of America" to their packaging to more clearly distinguish their products from similar products imported from Mexico and other countries.[137]
Tourism organizations in Alaska released statements opposing the renaming of Denali to Mount McKinley and committing to continue calling the mountain Denali.[138]
TheNational Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico inMobile, Alabama, has no immediate plans to change their name, which was designated by an act of Congress. The city-owned museum rebranded back to this name in April 2024 at a cost of nearly $100,000, and there is concern about the cost of overhauling the entire museum's exhibits, some of which focus on Mexico.[139][70]
The Nature Conservancy changed their publications to refer to the gulf within U.S. territorial waters as "Gulf of America", retaining "Gulf of Mexico" elsewhere. The organization cited the executive order's effect on their partnerships with federal government agencies.[140] At the time, the organization had at least $156 million in federal grants, including $45 million from theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.[141]
Political commentatorDavid Frum describes President Trump's renaming of the gulf as an attempt to project U.S. power, contrasting it with the historical European practice of mariners naming seas after destinations in less powerful countries on the opposite side, thus critiquing the action as a marker of decline.[143] Jeffrey Abramson andJack E. Davis, a noted author about the gulf's history, draw a parallel between the attempt to pressure the Associated Press and renamings by 20th century fascist leaders, warning of a possible precursor to scapegoating of minorities.[144] Military historianMichael W. Charney describes the replacement of an indigenous reference with a European-derived name as an example ofsettler colonialism and compares the move to China's unilateral actions with respect toterritorial disputes in the South China Sea.[145] International security researcher Dalbir Ahlawat argues that the U.S. has emboldened China to pursue a more aggressive posture in the South China Sea, undermining theBiden administration's strategic partnerships with the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam.[146]
Alaska residents also opposed the order to rename Denali to Mount McKinley. An online poll byAlaska Public Media found that, among 600 respondents, about 95% preferred Denali over Mount McKinley.[172]
^He said: "I don't think we can call it the Gulf of Mexico anymore. We broke it, we bought it."[20][21]
^"This new majority goes against a lot of the tenets of New Testament Christianity that I've based 29 years of legislation on," Holland told the NPR. "They want to kick immigrants out of the state, they want to drug test Medicaid people, they want to get rid of anything that's not 'America'. So I just thought it would be in keeping to introduce a bill to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. It fits right in with what the majority thinking apparently is now."[20][22][23]
^Itself an unauthorized reproduction of a 1590s world map of the same name byPetrus Plancius.[28]
Gosden, Emily (January 31, 2025)."Chevron toes Trump line and renames Gulf of Mexico".The Times. London. RetrievedFebruary 17, 2025.Chevron has become the first big energy company to adopt the term "Gulf of America" following President Trump's edict to rename the Gulf of Mexico, one of the world's most prolific oil-producing regions.
"Mexico could file suit against Google for 'Gulf of Mexico' name change". London:Reuters. February 13, 2025. RetrievedFebruary 17, 2025.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday urged Google to reconsider its decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users, adding the country could file a civil suit against the firm if necessary.
^Ramos Guadalupe, Luis Enrique (January 30, 2025)."El 'Golfo de América' y algunas implicaciones" [The 'Gulf of America' and some implications].Cubadebate (in Spanish). Havana: University of Information Science. RetrievedFebruary 21, 2025.
^abBurgum, Doug (February 7, 2025)."The Gulf of America"(PDF). Letter to United States Department of the Interior. Washington, D.C. S.O. 3423. RetrievedFebruary 11, 2025.
^abGulf of America can be found atGEOnet Names Server, atthis link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-1506402" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
^"Nazwa Zatoki Meksykańskiej" [Name of the Gulf of Mexico] (Press release) (in Polish). Warsaw: Commission on Standardization of Geographical Names Outside the Republic of Poland. January 22, 2025. RetrievedFebruary 13, 2025.
^LaMourie, Matthew J.; Broadus, James M.; Luebering, J. E. (February 18, 2025)."Gulf of Mexico / Gulf of America".Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. RetrievedFebruary 21, 2025.
^"A Gulf Between Us".Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. February 12, 2025. Archived fromthe original on February 12, 2025.
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