The Google map on an smartphone shows the Gulf of America on Feb. 10. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Google Maps users in the U.S. can now officially see the “Gulf of America” label over the Gulf of Mexico.
Why it matters: The name change, ordered by President Trump upon taking office, has sown confusion among journalists, map makers and government agencies.
The big picture: However, Google indicated last month that it would reflect the name change once it had been updated in official government sources.
- The tech company announced in a blog post Monday that they’d begun rolling out the update after the Geographic Names Information System officially updated its name for the gulf.
- Trump signed a proclamation Sunday declaring Feb. 9 “Gulf of America Day.”
Reality check: The U.S. does not exclusively control the body of water and doesn’t have full say over what it’s officially named.
- Google Maps users in the U.S. will see “Gulf of America” over the body of water but people in Mexico will continue to see “Gulf of Mexico” on their maps, Google said Monday.
- Everywhere else around the world, users will see both names, denoted as “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).”
Go deeper: Trump’s name change creates gulf of confusion
