The Associated Press has notified its outlets that while the news organization will now refer to the Alaskan mountain called Denali as Mount McKinley, it won’t change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Instead, the AP will refer to the change in stories about the gulf. Both name changes stem from an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump on his inauguration day.
“The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years, the AP statement reads. “The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen. As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences.”
David Rain, a professor of geography and international affairs at George Washington University, told NPR he doesn’t think the name changes will stick.
“I think whether you use it or not will depend on how you feel about Trump,” Rain told NPR. “But in terms of it turning into a lasting change, I would really doubt it.”
Mexico’s reaction
Nearly a month ago, Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, jokingly responded to the idea that Trump would rename the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America. She suggested in response that North America be changed to, “América Mexicana” or “Mexican America.” “That sounds nice, no?” she told reporters at a press conference.
After Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, she was still amused. “For us it is still the Gulf of Mexico, and for the entire world it is still the Gulf of Mexico.”
Google Maps changes
Trump’s executive order to rename the body of water along the southeast of the US Gulf of America went beyond the United States borders when Google Maps said it would comply by changing the name in its software. Google commented in a series of posts on X on Jan. 27 that its software would follow the change after it was implemented by the Geographic Names Information System.
Google wrote, “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.”
On Jan. 29, Mexican president Sheinbaum said in another press conference that her country was sending a letter of complaint to Google about the name change and reiterating that Maps should use América Mexican or Mexican America instead of North America. In her speech, Sheinbaum said countries don’t change the names of international bodies of water, it’s up to international organizations.
Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Mexico’s letter.
Read More: 'Gulf of America' Name Change May Not Last Past Trump's Presidency, Expert
