Mexican President Asks Google Not To Rename Gulf Of Mexico, Takes A Swipe At Trump Decision By Asking For 'Mexican America'

In a move that has sparked both laughter and outrage, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America by suggesting that North America should be renamed "América Mexicana," or "Mexican America." The Mexican leader made the proposal during a news conference on Wednesday, presenting a 1607 map that labeled parts of North America as "Mexican America."

Sheinbaum's proposal comes as a sarcastic response to Trump's executive order, signed last week, which directed that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America "in recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our nation's economy and its people." The order also called for all federal government maps and documents to reflect the change.

The Mexican president's suggestion has been met with a mix of amusement and disapproval from her fellow citizens. Some have taken to social media to share images poking fun at Trump's "obsession" with their country and the unorthodox nature of his decision. Others, however, have expressed annoyance or confusion at the renaming proposal, with some calling it "absurd" or "so childish."

Juan Cobos, a former resident of Veracruz who now lives in Mexico City, called the renaming "absurd," saying, "You can't change something overnight, what we've grown up with – history, geography, all that. You can't be so authoritarian that you can change it from one day to the next."

In an editorial for the Mexican newspaper El Universal, legal expert Mario Melgar-Adalid advised the country to push back against the name change, warning that if Mexico does not firmly oppose this interference, the next step could be that instead of the United Mexican States (Mexico's formal name), as established in their constitution, they will begin to call them "Old Mexico."

Google, for its part, has stated that it will take its cue from the U.S. government on changing the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Mt. Denali on its maps, following Trump's executive order. The company noted that 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.



The renaming of the Gulf of Mexico has raised concerns about the potential impact on the global perception and branding of this geographical feature. While the Gulf of America may become more closely linked with the United States, the historical and cultural significance of the Gulf of Mexico for Mexico and other countries in the region could potentially be overshadowed. Google Maps, as a widely used platform for geographical information, could play a crucial role in shaping this narrative by reflecting the new names on its platform. However, the renaming could also lead to confusion, controversy, and resistance, potentially impacting the historical and cultural significance of these features.

In conclusion, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's proposal to rename North America as "América Mexicana" or "Mexican America" has sparked a mix of amusement and disapproval from her fellow citizens. The renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, as ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump, has raised concerns about the potential impact on the global perception and branding of this geographical feature. Google Maps, as a widely used platform for geographical information, could play a crucial role in shaping this narrative by reflecting the new names on its platform. However, the renaming could also lead to confusion, controversy, and resistance, potentially impacting the historical and cultural significance of these features.